Kansas City's Brian Bannister throws a warm-up pitch before facing the Oakland Athletics. Bannister allowed three earned runs off six hits over five innings Monday in Phoenix.

Phoenix ? Brian Bannister got high marks from Kansas City Royals manager Trey Hillman and pitching coach Bob McClure on Monday after his five-inning start against the Oakland Athletics.

But Hillman found little praise for his offense, which managed just six hits, or for left-handed reliever Ron Mahay, who retired just one of the five batters he faced in the 6-2 loss to the A’s.

“Bannister was encouraging,” Hillman said. “That’s the best I’ve seen him pitch. The offense was not very encouraging. … We’ve got to swing the bats better than that.”

Mahay started the eighth with the Royals trailing 3-2, but he gave up three runs on three walks and a hit before being replaced by Joel Peralta.

“Ron walking the bases loaded, that’s disturbing as well,” Hillman said. “We just can’t put ourselves in that position. We turn it into a one-run ball game and end up giving it right back.”

Mahay, who has been in the majors more than six years, has an 8.44 earned run average in six spring training relief appearances for Kansas City.

“I’m not concerned,” McClure said. “You have to look at how he’s done in the past in the big leagues. You just can’t base it on this outing. That’s not to say I enjoy watching it. I definitely don’t.”

McClure did enjoy watching Bannister, who gave up three runs on six hits in five innings.

“Bannister was better, much better,” McClure said. “He threw quality pitches. They miss-hit a lot of balls. Through four innings, he had only 44 pitches; that’s more like Banny.”

Bannister, who was 12-9 with a 3.87 ERA in 27 starts as a rookie, was pleased with his outing except for the second inning, when he gave up three doubles and a pair of runs.

“The goal today was find the command of my four pitches and start locking those in,” Bannister said.