KANSAS CITY— Royals right-hander Johnny Cueto, making his home debut at Kauffman Stadium, dazzled the Tigers with a four-hit shutout as the Royals won, 4-0, on Monday in front of 36,672 fans.

Cueto walked none and struck out eight. He received numerous standing ovations from a delighted crowd. After the eighth inning, Cueto asked manager Ned Yost if he could pitch the ninth.

“Real happy about the fans,” Cueto said through interpreter Pedro Grifol. “They really gave me an extra boost and real, real happy with the way I worked with Salvy [Salvador Perez] tonight.”

Cueto received a huge ovation when he went back to the mound for the ninth.

“The crowd didn’t know he was going out in the ninth but I did and I knew that was the reaction we would get,” Yost said. “They went to their feet and were cheering. It was kind of exciting because I knew they would get pretty whipped up. That was kind of fun.”

Lorenzo Cain drove in two runs with a double in the first, giving Cueto all the run support he needed.

Left-hander Matt Boyd started for the Tigers and gave up nine hits and three runs through 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six.