Royals 5, Rockies 1: James Shields struck out eight in seven innings, Lorenzo Cain belted a two-run homer and Salvador Perez added a solo shot as host Kansas City won for the fifth time in its last seven games.

Alcides Escobar also drove in two runs and he and Perez each had two hits for the Royals, who have hit four of their major league-low 18 home runs in the last two games. Shields (5-3) allowed one run and five hits while recording his 1,500th career strikeout to win for the first time in three starts this season at home.

Justin Morneau recorded an RBI and Franklin Morales (3-3) yielded four runs, eight hits and four walks in five innings as Colorado lost for the fourth time in its last five games. The Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki went 1-for-3 with a walk, lowering his major league-leading average to .394 but raising his average to .250 on the road.

The Royals made it 1-0 in the second when Johnny Giavotella singled with two outs, Cain walked and Escobar delivered a run-scoring single to left-center. Morneau, a .341 hitter against Shields, drove in Tulowitzki with a base hit to tie it in the fourth after Nolan Arenado (two hits) kept the inning alive with a two-out single.

Cain jumped on a 2-2 fastball after Danny Valencia singled to lead off the fourth and Perez crushed an 0-2 curveball in the fifth - with both landing in the Royals bullpen in left. Shields retired the last 10 batters he faced to finish off his 34th quality start - the most in the majors since the start of 2013 - in 43 outings with the Royals.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa was scheduled to pitch, but back spasms pushed his next start back to at least Friday as Morales started on his normal rest because Colorado was off Monday. ...The Rockies turned two double plays and lead the major leagues with 48. ... Colorado LF Carlos Gonzalez battled Shields for 14 pitches before hitting a single to lead off the second inning.