Professional – Page 169 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Royals fall to Rockies for second straight spring loss

Posted on March 15, 2015March 15, 2015

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Troy Tulowitzki and Justin Morneau hit home runs on consecutive pitches in the first inning, lifting the Colorado Rockies to a 6-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Tulowitzki’s liner off Royals rookie Aaron Brooks curled inside the left field foul pole. The two-run shot was the second of the spring for Tulowitzki, who also made a diving play at shortstop as he shows no ill-effects from season-ending hip surgery.

Morneau, the 2014 NL batting champ, sent Brooks’ next pitch halfway up the grassy seating area in left center.

“Today was a nice little show in the first. That’s a good feeling for a pitcher,” Rockies starter Kyle Kendrick said. “The offense is going to score some runs.”

Corey Dickerson went 3 for 3 and Nolan Arenado added an RBI single as the top four hitters in the Colorado order combined to go 6 for 11.

Christian Colon had a two-run single off Kendrick.

Rockies No. 1 starter Jorge De La Rosa made a pain-free spring debut in a morning “B” game, giving up a double and striking out two in two scoreless innings. He had been out with a sore groin.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Brooks, who pitched in two games for the Royals last season, gave up four runs, five hits and struck out four in two innings. The right-hander was filling in for Jeremy Guthrie, who is recovering from a stomach virus.

Rockies: Kendrick, signed away from Philadelphia to fill a rotation spot, gave up two runs and five hits in three innings in his third start.

“I had to battle my command a little bit,” he said. “I wasn’t as sharp as last time.”

Jhoulys Chacin, coming back from shoulder trouble a year ago, followed. He worked out of a sixth-inning jam to finish with three scoreless innings, allowing four hits.

A-LEVEL “B” GAME

Executives, scouts and media crowded around a back field for a rare “B” game loaded with name players.

De La Rosa looked sharp in his twice-delayed first start. He mixed a variety of pitches, throwing 16 of 24 for strikes. He threw 16 more pitches in the bullpen.

De La Rosa’s lone blemish was Arizona slugger Mark Trumbo’s double off the wall. The left-hander also struck out former Rockies teammate Jordan Pacheco.

“I felt normal today,” De La Rosa said. “My fastball command was really good, except with Trumbo.”

De La Rosa expects to go three innings in his next start.

“I’ve got a lot of time to get ready,” he said.

Rockies prospect Eddie Butler struggled, giving up five runs and eights hits in three innings. Closer LaTroy Hawkins allowed an infield hit in a scoreless inning.

The added game allowed Colorado’s pitching staff to get its work in ahead of Monday’s off day.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Right-hander Luke Hochevar is set for his second appearance Monday in his comeback from elbow-reconstruction surgery.

Rockies: Second baseman Daniel Descalso was a late scratch with a sore oblique.

MORALES IMPRESSES

Left-hander Franklin Morales, who spent last season in Colorado, is helping his chances to make the Royals’ roster.

Morales threw two more scoreless innings with a walk and two strikeouts. He hasn’t allowed a run in six innings.

“If he can pitch the way that he’s pitched against us in the past, he’ll benefit our side,” manager Ned Yost said. “We’re seeing that.”

CARGO TO BUNT?

Rockies left-handed slugger Carlos Gonzalez faced what will likely be many defensive shifts Saturday with three infielders on the right side.

“Teams want to shift? We’ll take at-bats accordingly,” manager Walt Weiss said. “I think you’ll see CarGo lay down some bunts to beat the shift.

“We want to put them in position to where they’re reacting to us.”

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura starts Monday vs. Cleveland.

Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis starts Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis plays Minnesota to 6-6 nine-inning tie

Posted on March 15, 2015March 15, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Brian Dozier hit his second home run of the spring, a two-run shot off Carlos Martinez in the third inning, and the Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals played to a 6-6, nine-inning tie Sunday.

With a strong contingent of Cardinals fans making the drive across the state, Martinez left after 3 1/3 innings with a 5-0 deficit.

Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson, a former first-round pick from the University of Missouri, opened with four scoreless innings. Gibson struck out four and allowed just two hits, back-to-back singles in the third.

Randal Grichuk, who homered against the Twins on Saturday in Jupiter, got the Cardinals on the board with a two-run double off Tim Stauffer in the sixth. The Cardinals rallied to tie the game on Dean Anna’s sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Stauffer struggled for the third straight time this spring. In 2 1/3 innings, he allowed four earned runs on six hits.

BACK TO MINORS

Twins sent 13 players to minor league camp. Those moves included center fielder Byron Buxton, one of the top-ranked prospect in the minors, and right-hander Jose Berrios, ranked by some outlets as their top pitching prospect.

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Martinez issued a pair of walks after opening his spring with 6 2/3 walk-free innings, including the first two frames Sunday.

“The walks hurt him,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “That’s really the only part that I saw. For the most part he could have been out of there with a whole lot less damage.”

Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson, a former first-round pick from the University of Missouri, opened with four scoreless innings. Gibson struck out four and allowed just two hits, back-to-back singles in the third.

“I’m not going to be mad if I get more swings and misses,” Gibson said. “Then I won’t have to answer the questions about why I don’t get strikeouts. As long as I’m executing down in the zone, the swings and misses will come.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright, yet to make his spring debut due to an abdominal strain, is scheduled to throw a simulated game against Cardinals minor leaguers on Monday at home. The plan is for Wainwright to throw 30 pitches or more.

Twins: Closer Glen Perkins (strained right oblique) came through Saturday’s bullpen session without incident and is scheduled to throw next on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP John Lackey will make his first start of the spring at home against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. Lackey is sticking to the same spring schedule he used last season after an extended World Series run in 2013.

Twins: After Monday’s only scheduled off day of the spring, RHP Phil Hughes is slated to start Tuesday at the Baltimore Orioles. LHP Tommy Milone and RHP Trevor May will throw Monday in minor league games against visiting college teams. Milone will throw around 60 pitches while May will be limited to 45 or so.

— Associated Press —

Kansas City signs WR Avant, TE Gordon & S McCray

Posted on March 13, 2015March 13, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Friday that the club has signed wide receiver Jason Avant, tight end Richard Gordon and safety Kelcie McCray.

Avant (6-0, 210) has played in 132 games (52 starts) in nine NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2014), Carolina Panthers (2014) and Philadelphia Eagles (2006-13). His career numbers include 331 receptions for 3,999 yards (12.1 avg.) with 13 touchdowns. Avant spent seven seasons with Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia while Reid served as the Eagles head coach (2006-12). He owns 58 catches of 20-plus yards and has produced 205 first down grabs in his career. Avant originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick (109th overall) of the Eagles in the 2006 NFL Draft. The Chicago, Illinois, native, played collegiately at Michigan.

Gordon (6-4, 265) has played in 34 games (five starts) in four NFL seasons with the Chiefs (2013, 2014), Tennessee Titans (2014), Pittsburgh Steelers (2013) and Oakland Raiders (2011-12). He owns four receptions for 14 yards with one touchdown. He has served two stints with the Chiefs, the first in 2013 where he saw action in two contests and his second in 2014 where he played in two games including one start. The Miami, Fla., native played collegiately at the University of Miami (Fla.). He prepped at Norland High School and Milford Prep in his hometown.

McCray (6-1, 205) has played in 31 games in three NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2014), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2013) and Miami Dolphins (2012-13). His career numbers include 10 tackles (five solo), one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. He has 13 career special teams tackles. McCray joined the Chiefs on Aug. 21, 2014 via trade with Tampa Bay. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Dolphins in 2012 before being claimed via waivers by Tampa Bay on Oct. 2, 2013. McCray was a four-year letterman at Arkansas State and prepped at Hardaway High School in Columbus, Georgia.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Perez hits three-run homer as Kansas City tops Athletics

Posted on March 13, 2015March 13, 2015

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Edinson Volquez had a shaky start, but Salvador Perez hit a three-run homer to offset a two-run double by former teammate Billy Butler and the Kansas City Royals beat an Oakland Athletics split squad 8-4 Friday.

Perez homered to left in the four-run first with Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales aboard. Lorenzo Cain doubled and scored on Hosmer’s single.

“He’s really scorching the ball,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of Perez.

Butler, who played his first eight seasons with the Royals before signing with the A’s as a free agent in November, drove in Billy Burns and Ben Zobrist in the first with his hit off Royals newcomer Volquez.

He visited the Royals’ clubhouse before the game.

“I think they would have been mad if I didn’t,” Butler said. “It was just good to go over there and see all those guys, a lot of guys I have a personal relationship with. Just because I play on the other side doesn’t mean we don’t have relationships still. Just a lot of good memories.”

Butler said “it wasn’t that strange” facing the Royals.

“It was strange when I had to face Louis Coleman, who I’ve known six or seven years,” Butler said. “It was weird having Salvy catching. He probably knows my weaknesses, playing with me for so long.”

Volquez yielded two runs and five hits, three in the first inning, before exiting after 52 pitches in 2 1/3 innings.

“I can’t complain about it,” Volquez said. “I made a couple of mistakes. I’m just trying to find my rhythm. I threw some good changeups and some bad ones.”

Chris Bassitt, who is competing for a job in the A’s rotation, allowed five runs and seven hits in three innings.

The Royals improved to a Cactus League-best 10-1.

STARTING TIME

Athletics: Bassitt said Perez hit a changeup out in the first. “Which I never ever throw to righties,” Bassitt said. “I’ve been working on it and that’s what happens. In spring training, you have to work on things. Sometimes you’ve got to take bad results to have good results in the future.”

Royals: RHP Chris Young, who signed March 7, made his debut, throwing a scoreless seventh. After two singles to lead off the inning, Young retired the next three batters, striking out two.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: INF Rangel Ravelo had right wrist surgery Friday. He doubled in his only spring at-bat.

Royals: 2B Omar Infante, who has been limited to DH duties because of a right elbow bone spur, indicated he may have postseason surgery. … RHP Jeremy Guthrie has a stomach virus and will be pushed back from a Sunday start.

ZOBRIST BACK IN RIGHT

Ben Zobrist, who was acquired to play second base, started in right field for the second time. With A’s RF Josh Reddick likely to begin the season on the DL with an oblique injury, Zobrist could open in right. He played 331 games at right while with Tampa Bay.

FIRST ROYALS CUTS

RHP Christian Binford, who tossed three scoreless innings Thursday against Cleveland, was among eight players reassigned by the Royals. LHP John Lamb was optioned to Triple-A Omaha, while LHPs Scott Alexander, Sean Manaea and Chris Dwyer, RHPs Miguel Almonte and Binford and Cs Cameron Gallagher and Zane Evans were reassigned to minor league camp.

UP NEXT

Athletics: have a split-squad with RHP Jesse Chavez starting against the Giants at Mesa, and RHP Jesse Hahn will start against the Cubs in Las Vegas.

Royals: Closer Greg Holland will make his third relief appearance Saturday against the Angels.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals drop spring training game to Miami

Posted on March 13, 2015March 13, 2015

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Mat Latos allowed two hits over three scoreless innings in his first appearance in a Miami Marlins’ uniform, a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

Acquired from Cincinnati in an offseason trade, Latos angered the Reds when he told Fox during spring training that the Reds rushed him back from knee and elbow injuries last season.

“As far as what happened, it’s done and it’s over with,” Latos said. “Turn the page.”

Latos struck out two and walked two, throwing 22 of 39 pitches for strikes.

“I was good enough to make pitches and get outs when I needed to,” he said. “A couple ground ball double plays, those saved me.”

Mike Morse singled in Dee Gordon in the first, tying him for the team high with six RBIs in the spring. Reid Brignac’ hit a three-run triple in the second that fell barely inside the left-field line and just out of reach of a diving Tommy Pham. Center fielder Peter Bourjos tracked down the ball in the corner while Pham remained on the ground. Pham left the game with a quad strain.

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Zach Petrick allowed four runs, five hits and two walks in two innings. Petrick, likely starting the season at Triple-A Memphis, was making his first spring training start this year and third appearance.

Marlins: Tom Koehler, originally listed to start Saturday against Washington, will instead throw on a back field at the Marlins’ spring complex. Slated to be a member of Miami’s rotation, Koehler has made only one exhibition start.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Now that he’s thrown two batting practice sessions, Adam Wainwright began agility drills Friday. Wainwright sustsined a minor abdominal strain early in camp and has yet to appear in a spring training game. St. Louis has yet to announce a date for Wainwright’s first exhibition start.

Marlins: Adeiny Hechavarria didn’t play but is expected to appear in consecutive games for the third time this spring training this weekend. Hechavarria had been dealing with what the Marlins called a tired shoulder.

DOUBLE TIME

In an effort to give some younger players more game action, the Cardinals and Marlins played an early exhibition on the back fields prior to their Grapefruit League game. Bourjos, who is working on a new swing, played in both games, going a combined 2-for-7. His single in the fifth inning of the main game stopped an 0-for-13 Grapefruit League start. “Overall he’s making good progress, he just needs to see some success,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

SUPER VERSATILE

The Marlins started Ichiro Suzuki in left field, and he threw out Mark Reynolds at the plate. The Marlins signed Suzuki to be their fourth outfielder, and he has started at every outfield position. “The beauty of Ichiro is that he can do all those things; he can play all those positions,” Miami manager Mike Redmond said.

MOVING TIME

Miami reassigned pitchers Brian Ellington and Ryan Reld, catcher Sharif Othman and infielders Viosergy Rosa to minor league camp. They also optioned pitcher Grant Dayton to Triple-A New Orleans.

UP NEXT:

St. Louis hosts Minnesota on Saturday, and the Cardinals give Michael Wacha his second start. Miami plays Washington in Viera, and the Nationals planned to start Gio Gonzalez.

— Associated Press —

Kansas City signs offensive lineman Paul Fanaika

Posted on March 12, 2015March 12, 2015

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that the club has signed offensive lineman Paul Fanaika.

“Paul is a good football player that we feel can add value to our offensive line group,” Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey said. “He has familiarity with Coach Reid’s system and expectations. We are looking forward to working with him.”

Fanaika (6-5, 327) has played in 33 games (30 starts) in six NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (2009), Washington Redskins (2009-10), Cleveland Browns (2010), Seattle Seahawks (2011-13) and Arizona Cardinals (2013-14). He spent time on Philadelphia’s practice squad in 2009 under now Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid.

After leaving the Eagles, Fanaika had brief stints in Washington and Cleveland before signing with Seattle. On April 24, 2013 he signed with the Cardinals and started 30 games at right guard for the club over the past two seasons. He originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick (213th overall) of the Eagles in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Milbrae, California, native, played collegiately at Arizona State.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Perez gets three hits as Royals defeat Cleveland

Posted on March 12, 2015March 13, 2015

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Salvador Perez got three hits and the Kansas City Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 10-5 Thursday.

Paulo Orlando hit a two-run triple off Cleveland reliever Bryan Shaw. Orlando, an outfielder from Brazil, also had a single and an RBI forceout.

“Shaw was up with everything and he paid for it,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “When the lights go on, I’ll put my money on Shaw.”

Roberto Perez homered off Royals starter Danny Duffy. Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer off reliever Casey Coleman. Michael Bourn had two hits for Cleveland.

“It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t as bad as it looks,” Duffy said after giving up three runs in three innings.

Bourn was hampered by left hamstring problems last season. He is hitting .538 so far this spring.

“This is my ninth year,” Bourn said. “You look for motivation in these games. I haven’t had to back off anything. I am trying to simplify things and stay on top.”

Indians starter Nick Maronde allowed a run and four hits in three innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: LHP Tim Collins had Tommy John surgery and will miss the season. He will return home and rejoin the team later this month to begin rehab.

Indians: Zach Walters left the game with a right abdominal strain after fouling off a pitch in the fifth inning. The versatile Walters had a rib injury late last season. … OF Ryan Raburn slipped between first and second running out a double in the first inning. He stayed in for one more at-bat but left with discomfort in his left knee. He had knee surgery last September. … Nick Swisher participated in a simulated game and faced Marc Rzepczynski. Swisher (knee surgery) is expected to appear in games in mid-March. … Josh Tomlin threw a bullpen session. He was scratched on Sunday with shoulder fatigue and is scheduled to pitch Saturday against the Dodgers.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Chris Young is scheduled to pitch on Friday. Young, who won the 2014 Comeback Player of the Year Award with Seattle, signed with the Royals last Saturday. RHP Edinson Volquez will start against Oakland.

Indians: The Indians have a pair of split-squad games. LHP T.J. House will start against the Cubs, and RHP Zach McAllister will start against Arizona.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Duffy spent most of last season in the rotation. This spring, he has the luxury of refining his skills.

“My last time (against Cincinnati), they hit line drives at people, so that outing wasn’t as good as it looked,” Duffy said. “I’m results-based, but we are all working on things. I need to put people away.”

Indians: Reigning Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber threw a simulated game. “We wanted to back him off a little,” Francona said. “We wanted him to work on things without worrying about the fans and umpires.” He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out five.

— Associated Press —

Chiefs release Dwayne Bowe

Posted on March 12, 2015March 13, 2015

The Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday announced that the club has released wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.

“On behalf of my family and the entire Chiefs organization, I’d like to thank Dwayne for his contributions over the last eight seasons,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “During his time with the Chiefs, Dwayne established himself as one of the best receivers in club history. We wish Dwayne nothing but the best as he moves forward.”

“This was a tough decision to make,” Chiefs General Manager John Dorsey said. “Dwayne is a team-first guy and he holds a number of team receiving records. We felt this was in the best interest of the club at this time.”

“It’s been a pleasure working with Dwayne the past two seasons,” Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said. “He showed up every day with a great attitude and did everything we asked of him. He was a productive player for a number of years here and I have a lot of respect for what he was able to accomplish.”

Bowe (6-2, 221) has played in 118 games (112 starts) in eight NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2007-14). His career numbers include 532 receptions for 7,155 yards (13.4 avg.) with 44 touchdowns. Bowe’s most productive season with the Chiefs came in 2010 when he tallied 72 catches for 1,162 yards (16.1 avg.) with 15 touchdowns. He started two postseason games with the club in 2010 and 2013, catching eight passes for 150 yards (8.8 avg.) and one touchdown. Bowe originally entered the NFL as the Chiefs first-round draft pick (23rd overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft. The Miami, Florida, native played collegiately at LSU and prepped at Norland Senior High School in Miami.

St. Louis rolls to spring training win over Orioles

Posted on March 12, 2015March 13, 2015

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Mark Reynolds hit his first home run of the spring, connecting off Norris as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 Thursday.

Reynolds, who signed a one-year, $2 million free agent contract in the offseason, hit a three-run homer in the third inning.

“It feels good to barrel a ball up and see some results from all the work we’ve been putting in this spring,” said Reynolds, who hit a total of 60 homers for the Orioles in 2011-12. “Obviously it helps the confidence a little bit. I hope this one carries over into the coming weeks and into the season.”

Tony Cruz doubled and singled for St. Louis, making him 5 for 8 in exhibition play.

Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia gave up one run and two hits in four innings.

In a three-way competition to become the Cardinals’ fifth starter, Garcia struck out five.

“We saw sinkers in the dirt, guys are swinging and missing, that’s just different stuff than anybody else has,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “He had a real nice slider working today. He threw some strike curveballs. We saw changeups. It was a good outing.”

Norris didn’t fare nearly as well. He didn’t get out of third inning, allowing three runs and four hits with three walks and a hit batter.

“Fastball command obviously is something I need a lot more work on, but that’s something we get out of camp,” said Norris, who threw 28 of his 54 pitches for strikes. “But coming out of there healthy was the No. 1 key for me again.”

Baltimore touched Garcia for a run in the first when Jimmy Paredes doubled home Jayson Nix.

STARTING TIME

Orioles: Norris allowed his second home run of the spring. He surrendered 20 last season and has given up 20 or more in a season three times in his career.

Cardinals: Ace Adam Wainwright threw a bullpen session against live hitters on a back field before the game. He’s recovering from an abdominal strain early in camp and wants to make his exhibition debut soon, but has yet to be cleared for full participation. “I’ve thrown two live BPs now — usually that’s what you do before a game,” he said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: C Matt Wieters, recovering from elbow ligament replacement surgery, is scheduled to make his 2015 catching debut on Tuesday. He’s hitless in 20 at-bats as a DH.

Cardinals: Matheny said CF Jon Jay, who underwent offseason wrist surgery, is progressing but remains a few days away from making his first Grapefruit League appearance. … RHP Lance Lynn is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in the coming days and won’t make his second spring start until Wednesday at the earliest. Lynn left his first outing with hip soreness.

LACKEY LOOMING

John Lackey will make his spring debut on Monday against Detroit. Lackey is proceeding under a relaxed spring program.

KNUCKLING UNDER

Despite reassigning pitcher Eddie Gamboa to Triple-A, manager Buck Showalter expects the knuckleball pitcher to eventually make an impact. Showalter said Gamboa’s knuckler is already better than 2012 NL Cy Young Award winner R. A. Dickey’s was at this point in his development.

UP NEXT

Orioles: Ubaldo Jimenez had a rough spring debut, then fared a bit better in his next start. He pitches against Toronto.

Cardinals: Projected minor leaguer Zack Petrick will start on Saturday against Miami’s Mat Latos, who will be making his spring debut.

— Associated Press —

Royals fall to White Sox for first loss this spring

Posted on March 10, 2015March 11, 2015

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Jeremy Guthrie, the starting and losing pitcher in Game 7 of the World Series, got off to rough spring debut Tuesday and the Kansas City Royals lost to the Chicago White Sox 6-2.

Micah Johnson went 4 for 4, scored two runs and drove in one as the White Sox handed the Royals their first loss this spring after six wins.

Guthrie yielded three runs on four hits and a hit batter in the first inning, but retired the last four batters he faced.

“This one was a little more relaxed,” Guthrie said than his final World Series start. “The crowd wasn’t too scary here, not too much pressure.”

Guthrie had a modest goal for his debut.

“I wanted to throw a fastball harder than 91 (mph),” he said. “That’s what I was hoping for. You disappear for five months and come back and hope the arm goes as fast as before. I had the arm strength up and located pitches.”

Guthrie said he reached his goal.

“I did. I peeked up at the board,” he said.

Guthrie noted he lit up radar guns with speeds of 147 to 149 in November, while touring Japan with a major league All-Star team.

“That’s kilometers,” he said and smiled.

Johnson has six straight hits, including a tying, ninth-inning homer Monday against Arizona, to raise his average to .500.

Jose Abreu, the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year, contributed two hits, drove in a run and scored a run.

Jarrod Dyson led off the Royals first with a homer against Tyler Danish, a highly touted White Sox prospect. Danish, 20, permitted two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings.

“That was definitely big for me to see what I saw live today,” Danish said. “It was challenging, the World Series runner-ups, my first start in spring training. I like the competition. I’m glad I got to do it against them.”

STARTING TIME

White Sox: LHP John Danks threw four innings in a simulated game at Goodyear, instead of facing the Royals. The White Sox open the season April 6 at Kansas City and play the Royals 19 times this season, including seven in April.

Royals: LHP Brandon Finnegan, who went from a 2014 first-round draft pick to pitching in the World Series, allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in two innings.

THOMPSON BROTHERS

Golden State guard Klay Thompson, a NBA All-Star, was at Surprise Stadium to see his brother, Trayce Thompson, a White Sox outfield prospect. Klay scored 25 points Monday in the Warriors’ victory over the Phoenix Suns and remained in town to watch his brother. Trayce went 0 for 1 with a walk and started in right field.

FAREWELL TOUR

White Sox reserve OF Michael Taylor, 29, announced his retirement. Taylor hit .167 in 37 games in parts of three seasons with Oakland and the White Sox. … OF Engle Beltre, who hit .250 in 22 games last season with Texas, was moved over from the minor league camp to replace Taylor. Beltre pinch ran and subbed in center, going 1 for 1.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: Manager Robin Ventura said INFs Leury Garcia and Matt Davidson are battling shoulder soreness.

Royals: LHP Tim Collins, who has elbow ligament damage, will see Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday for a second opinion to see if surgery is warranted. … LF Alex Gordon took batting practice swings for the first time and said his right wrist, which required surgery in December, feels close to 100 percent.

UP NEXT

White Sox: Top prospect LHP Carlos Rodon, who struck out four Padres in two innings Friday, starts against the Rangers.

Royals: 2B Omar Infante, who received a cortisone shot for a bone spur in his right elbow, is scheduled to DH Wednesday against the Reds at Goodyear. The Royals have a split squad, hosting the Padres with RHP Yordano Ventura starting.

— Associated Press —