KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Tyler Chatwood pitched well enough to win. The Los Angeles Angels' rookie right-hander had to settle for a no-decision.

It's impossible to win when your team doesn't score.

Five Kansas City pitchers combined to beat the Angels 2-0 on Wednesday. Billy Butler's two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth accounted for all the runs.

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Chatwood went 7 2-3 innings and gave up five singles. The Royals did not get a runner past second base against him before the eighth.

The Angels mustered only seven hits and six were singles.

``We wanted to be able to give him some runs and we weren't able to do it,' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Chatwood. ``Any frustration has to be tempered by the fact that we've got a lot of youngsters in the lineup. Fortunately, on the horizon we'll get two big guys (Vernon Wells and Howie Kendrick) back (off the disabled list) which will help with our lineup depth.

``But still, we need to get better. There's no doubt we should have had some early runs and given Tyler something to work with.'

The Angels, who are batting .167 with the bases loaded, had them full with no outs in the third, but failed to score. Torii Hunter grounded into an inning-ending double play.

``It stinks,' Hunter said. ``You hit the ball hard and it's right to him and it's a double play. It was a rough day today. Defensively they made some nice plays. We don't want to lose like that, but we have to put it past us and come back Friday rejuvenated.'

The Angels again loaded the bases in the eighth, but Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar made a diving stop on the edge of the outfield grass of Alberto Callaspo's sharp grounder, and threw him out at first to strand the runners.

``Obviously you want to win the series, but if you're going to lose, this is not the worst way to do it,' Chatwood said. ``It was a heck of a game. Somebody had to score and it turned out to be them. You always want to win. As a starter you have to do your job and keep us in the game.'

Jeff Francoeur singled with one out before Butler connected off Scott Downs (3-2). The ball hit behind the outfield padding in left-center field and bounced back into play, and the umpires initially ruled it a double before video showed it to be a home run.

Tim Collins (3-2) pitched 1 1-3 flawless innings for the win.

Felipe Paulino, who made his first start of the season after 19 relief appearances, held the Angels to four singles over five innings, striking out four without an issuing a walk.

The Royals acquired Paulino last week from the Colorado Rockies, who had designated him for assignment. Paulino has thrown 9 1-3 scoreless innings and given up five hits, while striking out seven and walking none in his first two appearances with Kansas City.

Greg Holland, who replaced Paulino, worked 2 2-3 scoreless innings and struck out six.

NOTES: Kendrick (right hamstring tightness) will be activated Saturday. ... Royals RHP Kyle Davies (rotator cuff inflammation) threw off the mound Wednesday. ... Angels 1B Kendry Morales (left ankle surgery) had his splint removed Wednesday and replaced with a hard cast. ... Wells (strained right groin) is taking batting practice and will go through a full workout Friday at Anaheim. He will be evaluated by the medical staff and could begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend. ``He needs to get enough swings to get his torso ready before he can go out, but we expect he'll be ready for rehab shortly,' Scioscia said. ``It's conditional on how he feels.'