Kansas City, Mo ? Jimmy Gobble learned many things in his first brief stint in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals.

For one, Tampa Bay isn’t Minnesota, New York or Anaheim.

Gobble started his career 2-0 with two breezy wins over Tampa, giving up a total of just one run. But in his next three starts the 22-year-old left-hander was jolted back to reality.

He allowed 18 runs in 131/3 innings and lost to the defending American League Central champion Twins, defending AL East champion Yankees and defending World Series champion Angels.

Gobble was sent back to the minors Saturday before the Royals’ game against Anaheim was rained out. Officials waited 90 minutes before calling the game, and a doubleheader was scheduled for today. The first game will start at 1:05 p.m., and the second approximately 30 minutes after the end of the first.

Still confident, Gobble vows to make it back to the majors.

“I know I can pitch here,” Gobble said. “It’s something I’ve worked toward for 22 years now. It’s something I’m going to keep working for. I don’t want to just be up here.”

The Royals believe Gobble has the stuff to win at the major-league level. He’s not a power pitcher, though. A hard-breaking curve has always been his out pitch.

“Here, lately my curveball hasn’t been that good,” he said. “But that’s usually my pitch that sets the tone. I’m a location guy. If I’m moving my fastball in and out and I have a good curveball and can mix in the changeup, that’s me. Most of the time I have that.”

His most vivid memory — and biggest embarrassment of this first trip to the majors — came last week in New York. He started at Yankee Stadium against Roger Clemens, and the nervous rookie allowed eight quick runs. His day was done after just 41/3 innings.

“I just didn’t have it that day. It was a good experience and I learned a lot,” he said. “But I would love to take it back and make that start over again. I’m going to look back some day and say I got to pitch to somebody I grew up watching. But I wanted to win. It was still very disappointing.”

The Royals started the night in a virtual tie with Chicago in the AL Central, and just a half-game ahead of Minnesota.

Ironically, this drought-stricken summer, which has forced mandatory water restrictions, has included a club-record five postponements.

The Royals switched their starting pitchers for today, with Brian Anderson (10-10) going against Anaheim’s John Lackey (8-13) in the opener, and Brad Voyles (0-2) against Scot Shields (3-4) in the nightcap.