Texas third baseman Travis Metcalf chats with an umpire. Metcalf, a Kansas University product, and the Rangers lost to the Royals, 10-0, Sunday in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City, Mo. ? The Kansas City Royals certainly are glad they have Leo Nunez now.

Nunez pitched six scoreless innings in his second major-league start, and the Royals routed the Texas Rangers, 10-0, Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

Nunez (1-0), who was recalled from Triple-A Omaha, gave up three singles, walked one and struck out one before departing after 85 pitches. Kansas City nearly dealt him to Oakland last month for Milton Bradley, but backed out when they learned Bradley was injured.

“It seemed like he was in control from the very first pitch,” Royals manager Buddy Bell said. “It would be nice if he continues to do that for us. I know it’s tough to do every time. But just from the standpoint of being aggressive and throwing strikes, you can’t do much better than that. He was really good today.”

Nunez is pleased the trade to Oakland did not go through.

“I don’t have control over that, but I don’t want to go anywhere,” Nunez said with teammate Octavio Dotel acting as a translator.

The young Dominican right-hander, who was a reliever before this season and fractured his right wrist in spring training, held Boston to one run over four innings on July 17 in his first start, and would have gotten the win had he gone five.

“I’ll do anything – start or relief – I just want to stay in the big show,” Nunez said.

Nunez was sent back to the minors the day after his Boston start. Nunez will not be going anywhere after this outing – Bell said he would start Friday at New York.

“Leo had everything working,” Royals catcher Jason LaRue said. “He was basically able to mix up all his pitches and throw all of his pitches for strikes. We didn’t go into a lot of deep counts. He had command of all his pitches, not just one pitch.”

Joel Peralta gave up two hits over the final three innings to get his second career save.

“They outpitched us,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “It’s not they pitched us all that good. It’s just on any given day, pitching can shut down hitters, and they shut down our hitting. Their pitchers were better than ours.”

David DeJesus and Tony Pena Jr. each had two hits and drove in three runs. Ross Gload had three hits, extending his hitting streak to a season-high eight games, and drove in a run.