SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) – Gerardo Parra and Khris Davis combined to drive in seven runs as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Kansas City Royals 8-4 Wednesday.
Parra, acquired in a July 31 trade with Arizona, hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning and had a sacrifice fly in the second.
Davis contributed a two-run double in the first and added another RBI double in the fifth.
”Probably the last four or five games Parra’s played, he’s really swinging the bat well,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. ”Davis has been off and on. He’d have a great game and then so-so and then have a good game again. Hopefully, he’s headed in the right direction.”
Wily Peralta, who led the Brewers with 17 wins last season, allowed one run and struck out four in 3 1-3 innings. He stranded four runners, including three in scoring position, in the second and third innings.
”When those situations come up, like during the season, you have to step up and make some pitches, and I was able to do that today,” Peralta said.
Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez was roughed up for six runs on eight hits and two walks in four innings. Volquez has a 9.72 ERA in three starts, surrendering 16 hits in 8 1-3 innings.
”What happened today hopefully doesn’t happen in the regular season,” Volquez said.
Mike Moustakas homered and singled, driving in two runs for Kansas City.
After winning 10 of their first 11 games, the Royals have lost four of five.
STARTING TIME
Brewers: RHP Taylor Jungmann threw only eight strikes in 29 pitches Sunday while walking four and retiring just one of eight Texas hitters he faced. But he had a much better outing against the Royals. He tossed a scoreless seventh, giving up two hits while throwing 11 strikes in 18 pitches. ”He had a couple of balls hit hard off him, but he made some nice pitches and his stuff was really good, so I was happy to see that,” Roenicke said.
Royals: RHP Jason Frasor gave up one hit and struck out one in a scoreless sixth. Frasor has not allowed a run in five appearances.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: Adam Lind played first base for the first time after being limited to three games as a DH because of back issues that have bothered him since 2011. ”I got through today,” Lind said. ”I feel good, which is always the main thing. No setbacks. I’ve made progress every day. The thing about it is that it pops up. You never know. It can happen closing a toilet seat or shaving. Anything when I bend over, that’s the problem, not the recovery. It’s just been a cycle of different type of rehabs and different methods to try to recover. ”
Royals: LF Alex Gordon went 3 for 6 with a double and a home run in a minor league intrasquad game Tuesday. He is recovering from right wrist surgery in December and has not yet played in a Cactus League game.
ROYALS TRIM A DOZEN
Two former first-round picks, OF Bubba Starling and 3B Hunter Dozier, along with shortstop prospect Raul Mondesi were among 12 players sent to minor league camp by the Royals. They optioned RHP Aaron Brooks, INF Orlando Calixte and OFs Lane Adams and Jorge Bonifacio to Triple-A Omaha. Kansas City also assigned RHPs Brian Broderick and Casey Coleman, LHPs Buddy Baumann and Joe Paterson, and 1B Matt Fields to minor league camp.
MAJOR LEAGUERS IN MINORS
Royals RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who skipped a start because of a stomach virus, will pitch in a minor league game Friday. RHP Yordano Ventura will start in a minor league game Saturday instead of pitching against the White Sox, who open the season in Kansas City.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Mike Fiers starts Thursday against the Giants.
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas, who has given up 10 hits in five innings, will start Thursday against the Rockies.
— Associated Press —