Kansas City Royals shortstop Angel Berroa fields a grounder against the Los Angeles Angels. The Royals started their exhibition schedule Thursday in Tempe, Ariz., with a 7-6 loss to the Angels.

Tempe, Ariz. ? Gary Matthews Jr. got his nicest reception of the week when making his debut for the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday.

Matthews drew polite applause from a crowd of 2,057 when he led off for the Angels. He went 0-for-2 in the Angels’ 7-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals in their exhibition opener.

Before the game, Matthews said he still could not talk about news reports tying him to a pharmacy that allegedly shipped him human growth hormone in 2004.

“When I get more information from my people, I can say more,” Matthews said.

Los Angeles’ new center fielder and leadoff hitter, who signed a $50 million, five-year deal in November, fouled out to the catcher his first time up and flied to center in the third inning before Jeff Mathis replaced him in the fourth.

Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said he could understand why Matthews wasn’t revealing much to reporters, or to the team’s management.

“I think Gary’s obviously been counseled from a lot of areas from guys who have experience in this and know the process,” Scioscia said before the game. “We’re going to deal with things as they unfold. Gary’s attitude is very positive.

“It’s obviously tough on him, tough on our organization right now. But until these events progress far enough to where this issue can be resolved, we have to make sure that it’s not a distraction.”

SI.com reported that Applied Pharmacy in Mobile, Ala., allegedly sent Matthews Genotropin, a brand of synthetic growth hormone, in August 2004. The two owners of the pharmacy have been indicted by a grand jury in Albany, N.Y.

Baseball didn’t include human growth hormone on its list of banned substances until 2005, and currently has no test that would detect its use.

GM Bill Stoneman, asked if there were any red flags before the Angels signed Matthews said, ‘He checked out fine. There were no problems; there was nothing there.”

Matthews said he was coping despite the allegations.

“I’ve had a lot of support from friends and family,” he said. “I’m going about the business of preparing for the season.”

Angels starter Ervin Santana, who struck out two and walked two in two innings against the Royals, said he was working on his slider, which he used to strike two batters and get a strike on another.

He said of the two walks, “I lost my concentration. Nobody’s perfect.”

The Royals’ Brian Bannister, obtained in a trade with the New York Mets, started and gave up one hit and struck out one in two innings. Another newcomer on Kansas City’s revamped pitching staff, Joakim Soria, had one strikeout in two innings. Soria was a Rule 5 draft pick from San Diego.

“I thought Bannister was impressive,” Royals manager Buddy Bell said, adding that he also liked Soria’s outing.

“I was pleasantly impressed (by both),” he said.