He began last season 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in his first three starts, but he endured a 13-game winless streak from June 29-Sept. 9. He finished 2008 with a 9-16 record and 5.76 ERA, which did not guarantee him a spot in the 2009 rotation.

Bannister, who had started 59 games the past two years for Kansas City, failed to make the team out of spring training after going 0-2 with an 8.53 ERA. Bannister, however, pitched against the Indians as a man on a mission to maintain his spot in the rotation.

"Banny was unbelievable," Royals right fielder Willie Bloomquist said. "He went head-to-head with last year's Cy Young Award winner (Cliff Lee) and got the best of him."

Said Royals manager Trey Hillman, "He was outstanding. He did a great job."

Bannister replaced lefty Horacio Ramirez in the rotation. Ramirez will be used out of the bullpen.

ROYALS 2, INDIANS 0: Coco Crisp manufactured a run in the first, leading off with a double, going to second on a flyout and scoring on a sacrifice fly. Willie Bloomquist drove in the other run with a two-out, seventh-inning single. RHPs Brian Bannister, Jamey Wright and Joakim Soria combined on a five-hit shutout. Soria struck out Trevor Crowe looking to end the game with runners on second and third.