Bruce Chen pitched a two-hitter for his first career shutout, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 7-0 win over Tampa Bay on Friday night and dropping the Rays out of first place in the American League East.

Tampa Bay, now 94-66, trails New York by a half-game. The Rays have lost three straight games and five of six.

Chen (12-7) struck out seven and walked two in the third complete game of his career. Tampa Bay's only hits came in the third on Sean Rodriguez's bunt single and in the sixth on B.J. Upton's double.

Chen finishes the season by going 7-2 in his last 13 starts.

Gregor Blanco had three hits and drove in three runs for Kansas City.

James Shields (13-15) allowed seven runs (six earned) and 12 hits in five innings. The right-hander is 0-4 in his last six starts and hasn't won since Aug. 29.

Kansas City scored a run in the first. Blanco singled and Mike Aviles walked to start the inning. Blanco scored from second when Billy Butler hit into a double play.

A run-scoring triple by Blanco, followed by singles by Billy Butler and Alex Gordon sparked the Royals' three-run third.

The Royals added a run in the fifth on shortstop Jason Bartlett's throwing error. Blanco had a two-run single in the sixth.