PHOENIX (AP) — Chris Carter and Martin Maldonado each hit three-run homers, Wily Peralta threw six strong innings and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Kansas City Royals 9-2 on Thursday.

Ryan Braun was a late scratch for the Brewers due to lower back soreness. He had back surgery in the off-season and was slowly easing back into play (seven at-bats) without any setbacks before Thursday. Braun’s replacement, Eric Young Jr., hit a two-run homer.

“We’re just going to be cautious,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said of his approach to Braun. “He won’t be in there tomorrow. We’ll see for Saturday. I don’t think it’s a red flag. I’m not concerned. We’re just going to be overly cautious at this point. I anticipate him being in there on Saturday.”

Peralta, the Brewers’ No. 1 starter, had his best outing of the spring, allowing four hits and one run, a solo homer to Eric Hosmer. It was the third homer for Hosmer, who is now hitting .400.

“I’m right where I want to be. I feel strong, healthy and now you work to maintain it. That’s all you can ask for,” Hosmer said. “(Royals manager) Ned (Yost) does a great job of easing us back into shape. This is the first week we’re playing three games in a row and it feels just right.”

Reymond Fuentes added his third homer of the spring in the ninth inning for Kansas City. Starter Dillion Gee sailed through the first three innings before allowing the three-run homer to Maldonado in the fourth.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Gee allowed three hits in four innings, getting into trouble in the fourth with two walks, an RBI single by Jonathan Villar and Maldonado’s home run to left center.

“I felt good early. That last inning I lost my release point and struggled with command,” Gee said. “I feel like I have thrown the ball better this spring than I have in other years. I’m healthy and feeling good where I’m at.”

Brewers: Peralta entered the game with an 11.70 ERA but had his best start by far, allowing four hits and striking out three.

FEELING CENTERED

Counsell hasn’t named his starting center fielder. But Keon Broxton sure looks like one, even on a day when he doesn’t get to hit. Broxton made the defensive play of the day for Milwaukee, a diving catch of Whit Merrifield’s fly ball before popping to his feet and throwing a strike to second to double off Travis Snider.

“I thought the runner was going to be back in plenty of time. I saw the umpire call him out and I was shocked,” said Braxton, who his hitting .345 with an on-base percentage of .500. “I’ve done as much as I can to make a statement. It’s not in my hands.”

DEAL OR NO DEAL?

The Brewers still have seven pitchers vying for the final two spots on the staff. Starters Peralta, Jimmy Nelson, Matt Garza, Taylor Jungmann and Chase Anderson and relievers Michael Blazek, Corey, Knebel, Jeremy Jeffress, Will Smith and Tyler Thornberg are already locked in leaving seven pitchers battling for two spots.

Among those are three veterans — Blaine Boyer, Chris Capuano and Franklin Morales — who are camp invitees and not on the 40-man roster. There is wiggle room with both Rymer Liriano and Yhonathan Barrios starting the season on the disabled list. The team has until no later than March 29 to be put invitees on the roster. If they aren’t they earn a $100,000 retention bonus.

Capuano and Morales are lefties and figured to be battling with Sean Nolin, who hasn’t pitched since March 14 due to elbow soreness.

TRAINING ROOM

Royals: Pitcher Tim Collins will have Tommy John surgery for the second time in a year after the ligament graft from the first surgery in March of 2015 was unsuccessful.

Brewers: Liriano, who was hit in the face by a pitch on Sunday, was scheduled to see a plastic surgeon Thursday to discuss options.

Royals: Right-hander Ian Kennedy will start against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.

Brewers: Right-hander Jimmy Nelson will face the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park.

— Associated Press —

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Tyler Naquin homered twice and Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis also homered, powering the Cleveland Indians to a 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

Naquin, the Indians’ first pick in the 2012 draft, hit his first two home runs of the spring. He also doubled and scored on an RBI single by Mike Napoli.

“Naquin’s doing everything he can do,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We’ll get to a point where we start to do some things. You don’t want to do them too early, but he’s done a really good job.”

Lindor and Kipnis hit consecutive homers in the first inning. It was the first for Lindor and third for Kipnis, who also tripled and scored in the third.

Napoli signed with the Indians to play first base and designated hitter along with Carlos Santana. Napoli is hitting .455 this spring.

Mike Moustakas homered and Reymond Fuentes singled with the bases loaded off Danny Salazar for the Royals in a six-run third inning. Salvador Perez had two hits.

Salazar allowed six runs, five earned, in 2 1/3 innings.

“Salazar had a rough day. I think he’s better than that,” Francona said. “I hope this doesn’t get in the way of his progression. We wanted him to go five. (Pitching coach) Mickey (Callaway) told him to go work on his legs.”

Kris Medlen allowed four home runs in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out four.

“The center fielder (Naquin), the young dude they have has such a great swing,” Medlen said. “Every mistake I made with the heater was absolutely smashed. I tried to go down and away to him (Naquin) and he absolutely smacked it. Then I tried to go in and he absolutely smacked it.”

STARTING TIME

Royals: Kris Medlen gave up five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings and seven hits and a walk. He struck out six but allowed four home runs.

“I felt like my stuff was there,” Medlen said. “You don’t like to get tatered like that, but at the same you want to be aggressive. I was a little over aggressive at times. I was encouraged with my changeup. I threw 75 pitches and felt I had more in the tank.”

Indians: Danny Salazar lasted just 2 1/3 innings in giving up five earned runs for the second straight outing. He allowed five in four innings to Cincinnati in his previous start.

“I was getting the ball up, then some of the pitches went in the dirt because I was trying to throw strikes,” Salazar said. “I was being a little more aggressive. This helps me learn for the next time.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Jarrod Dyson has not appeared in a spring training game since March 2. Dyson has a strained right oblique.

Indians: C Yan Gomes was sent home with the flu. … OF Michael Brantley is sore after playing in two Cactus League games and a minor league game. Brantley, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, will get a couple days off to rest. … Lonnie Chisenhall played in a minor league game. He had tightness in his right forearm.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Dillon Gee is scheduled to start against the Brewers in Marydale.

Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer is slated to face LHP Clayton Kershaw Thursday night in Goodyear.

ROSTER MOVES

Royals: The Royals released RHP Ross Ohlendorf. … C Parker Morin, INF Orlando Calixte and INF Dusty Coleman were re-assigned to minor league camp. LHP Scott Alexander, LHP Brian Flynn were optioned to Triple-A Omaha.

Indians: Optioned RHP Felipe Paulino to Triple-A Columbus.

— Associated Press —