MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer in his first action at Miller Park since his doping suspension, but Milwaukee lost 5-4 to the Kansas City Royals in an exhibition game Friday night.

Braun’s homer traveled 409 feet over the wall near straightaway center, giving Milwaukee a two-run lead in the third. The hometown crowd showered Braun with overwhelming applause.

The 2011 NL MVP went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs. He’s now hitting .412 this spring.

“I feel pretty good, seeing the ball well,” he said. “The key for me is always trying to swing at strikes.”

It was Braun’s first appearance in a game at Miller since striking out as a pinch hitter on July 21. He was suspended the next day for the remainder of the 2013 season, covering 65 games.

The Royals rallied in a three-run fourth inning that was extended following an error by third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Billy Butler added a solo drive for Kansas City in the fifth.

Salvador Perez doubled and scored twice for Kansas City. The catcher is just fine after getting hit in the head with a pitch in his last game Wednesday against the Padres.

Perez’s double came off a blooper down the right-field line for Braun’s first chance Friday at his new position. He fielded it cleanly after the ball fell out of reach.

Braun moved from left to right field after Milwaukee traded Norichika Aoki to Kansas City in the offseason for left-handed reliever Will Smith.

“Ryan asked me about playing right field but, no, I didn’t have much advice for him,” Aoki said through an interpreter. “I told him he’s talented and he would be fine.”

THUMB UP

Braun looks as if he’s in midseason form at the plate, though manager Ron Roenicke said before the game there could be lingering issues from the right hand injury that also bothered the slugger last season.

“Time to time it will probably flare up, but he should be fine,” Roenicke said.

Braun has apologized several times in the offseason for the doping suspension, and has vowed to become one of the top hitters in the game again.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Braun had the only two hits off left-handed starter Jason Vargas, Kansas City’s big free-agent pitching acquisition in the offseason. Vargas went three innings with two walks and a strikeout in his final spring tuneup.

Vargas had a good spring after entering the night with a 2.14 ERA.

“He lost his command a little bit late, giving up the two walks and then a pitch up to Braun,” manager Ned Yost said. “Besides that, I was pleased with his effort, too.”

Brewers: Like Vargas, Matt Garza was a big free-agent grab for his team. He allowed four runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings with two walks and a strikeout. Two runs were unearned following Ramirez’s error.

Garza finished the spring with an 8.80 ERA, though he said he feels ready for first regular-season start Wednesday against Atlanta. The veteran said his timing and mechanics were a little off, but he felt the problem was a quick fix.

TRAINERS ROOM

Royals: Second baseman Omar Infante stayed behind at the team’s spring complex in Arizona as he tries to get over an elbow injury. It was unclear whether he would be ready for the team’s season opener Monday at Detroit.

Brewers: Jean Segura said his sore right shoulder is feeling better, though it’s unclear whether the All-Star shortstop will be ready when Milwaukee’s regular season begins Monday against the Braves.

TIN CUP

A bad day on the golf course this spring left Brewers reliever Brandon Kintzler with a new job Friday night.

Kintzler had to serve as a team batboy after losing a bet over a round of golf to teammate Kyle Lohse, who cruised to an 11-stroke victory.

Garza didn’t waste a chance to poke fun and put Kintzler to work.

“It was just the ball was scuffed, I had to get rid of it, so didn’t want to throw a dirty ball,” Garza deadpanned. “That’s about it.”

— Associated Press —

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — James Shields gave up seven runs in the first inning Wednesday before settling down to throw three scoreless ones in his final start before opening day in the Kansas City Royals’ 9-5 loss to the San Diego Padres.

Shields gave up six hits, walked one and hit a batter as the Padres sent 11 to the plate in the first. Shields allowed only one hit after that and finished with a 4.74 spring ERA.

“They were just hitting groundballs that found some holes,” Shields said. “I was trying to stay aggressive. Walking the first guy didn’t help. But other than the first inning, I thought it was a pretty good effort.”

Shields will start Monday at Detroit as the Royals try to end a 28-year postseason drought, longest in the majors.

Padres starter Ian Kennedy gave up solo home runs to Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez on consecutive pitches in a two-inning stint that included three runs and six hits.

Perez left in the third after he has hit in the head by Johnny Barbato’s curveball. A team spokesman said he didn’t sustain a concussion.

“The one Perez hit was hit hard. The one Gordon hit was a flyball the wind got,” Padres manager Bud Black. “Pitch count (53) was a little high for two innings.”

Robbie Erlin, a candidate to start for San Diego while Josh Johnson (forearm) is sidelined, allowed six hits and struck out six in five shutout innings.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Five times in the first inning, the Padres swung at Shields’ first pitch. it resulted in four hits and a sacrifice bunt.

“Last game of spring training, they’re swinging early,” Shields said.

Padres: It was a mediocre spring for Kennedy, who finished with a 6.33 ERA. He’s scheduled to start San Diego’s second regular-season game Wednesday against the Dodgers.

PEREZ SCARE

Perez was the batter who hit the liner into Cincinnati reliever Aroldis Chapman’s face last week, causing a facial fracture that required surgery.

This time, the catcher was on the other end of a scary incident, being hit in the head with a pitch.

“I’m fine,” Perez said through a team spokesman.

GRANDAL TO DL?

The Padres will decide this weekend whether to carry three catchers or place Yasmani Grandal on the disabled list.

Grandal has made a rapid recovery from right knee ACL surgery in July. He caught nine innings in a minor league game Monday, but is not ready to catch consecutive days.

“I’ll be in San Diego, but I think it’s going to be more of a see what happens in the next five days, see how it feels,” Grandal said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Reliever Louis Coleman, who has a 13.50 ERA this spring while pitching with a bruised right middle finger, will stay behind in Arizona and is expected to start the season on the disabled list. . Second baseman Omar Infante (elbow) went 2 for 5 and played five innings in the field in a minor league game. Manager Ned Yost said he’ll DH in a minor league game Thursday and if that goes well he’ll rejoin the team in Milwaukee.

Padres: Outfielder Carlos Quentin was a late scratch with left knee pain. . Outfielder Chris Denorfia (shoulder) will stay in Arizona and play in a minor league game Thursday. Black said he’s “still optimistic” Denorfia will be ready for the opener. . Outfielder Cameron Maybin (torn biceps) is swinging in the batting cage and playing catch this week. He’s expected to miss another two to four weeks. . Right-hander Joe Wieland had surgery to remove loose cartilage in his elbow and won’t resume a throwing program for six weeks.

PAYROLL BOOST

The Padres’ payroll will surpass $90 million this season for the first time, according to a study of all contracts by The Associated Press.

San Diego ranks 21st among 30 teams, with the Royals 19th at just over $92 million.

UP NEXT

Both teams were leaving Arizona after the game for two final exhibitions.

The Padres return home to play the Indians on Friday and Saturday at the University of San Diego.

The Royals will face the Brewers in Milwaukee on Friday and Saturday.

“I’m excited about taking a good team in there,” said Yost, a former Brewers player and manager.

— Associated Press —

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Troy Tulowitzki homered, Franklin Morales struck out seven over five innings in a strong audition for a spot in the Colorado rotation, and the Rockies beat the Kansas City Royals 8-2 Monday.

Tulowitzki wrapped his third homer of spring training around the left field foul pole off former Rockies teammate Jeremy Guthrie in the second. The three-time All-Star finished 1 for 3 with a sacrifice fly and is hitting .160.

Charlie Culberson added a two-run double in the third. Guthrie allowed four runs and six hits in five innings.

Morales gave up an unearned run, thanks to his own error, and three hits. The left-hander made a wild pickoff throw to first base that hit the umpire. But he threw 73 pitches as he tries to beat out Jordan Lyles for the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

“In some of these decisions, it’s not just player-to-player and who won,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “You’ve got to take into consideration the design of the club and how the pieces fit. But he’s made a case for himself.”

Colorado’s Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer off Spencer Patton in the sixth, two days after getting hit on the left hand by a pitch.

— Associated Press —

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Mike Moustakas homered twice, Eric Hosmer added three hits and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-3 on Sunday.

Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro left after the first inning with a slight strain of his right hamstring. He hurt himself trying to steal a base after he was hit by a pitch.

Moustakas hit a drive off Cubs starter Edwin Jackson leading off the second inning and a two-run shot off Carlos Villanueva in the third.

“It’s about seeing as many pitches as you can,” Moustakas said. “I’ve been seeing the ball pretty good as of late and I am trying to keep seeing the pitches, working the at-bats and fighting with two strikes.”

Hosmer doubled twice, and Lorenzo Cain had two hits for the Royals. Kansas City starter Wade Davis gave up one hit in two scoreless innings.

Javier Baez and Justin Ruggiano each had two hits for Chicago.

The game at Cubs Park drew a Cactus League-record crowd of 14,680.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Royals and All-Star closer Greg Holland agreed on a $4.675 million contract Wednesday, which means all of Kansas City’s arbitration-eligible players are signed ahead of spring training.

Pitchers and catchers are due to report to Surprise, Ariz., on Friday.

Holland asked for $5.2 million after going 2-1 with a 1.21 ERA and 47 saves last season, while the Royals offered $4.1 million. They settled on a figure that represents a big bump from the $539,000 he made in 2013, and includes a $50,000 bonus for making the All-Star game.

The deal means that Royals general manager Dayton Moore still has never gone to arbitration with a player. The last Royals player to go to arbitration was outfielder Emil Brown in 2006, the offseason prior to Moore’s hiring as GM.

— Associated Press —

The Kansas City Royals announced Friday that the club has named former first baseman Mike Sweeney to the front office staff, carrying the job title of Special Assistant to Baseball Operations.

“We’re thrilled as an organization that Mike will be joining our baseball operations department,” Royals Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations/General Manager Dayton Moore said.  “He’s a tremendous leader and I’m confident that he will impact our players and staff in positive way.”

Sweeney, 40, was a five-time American League All-Star with the Royals, whom he played with from 1995-2007 after being drafted in the 10th round in 1991 out of Ontario (Calif.) High School.  Sweeney was a .297 career hitter with 325 doubles, 215 home runs, 909 RBI and 759 runs scored.  He capped his playing career with the Oakland Athletics (2008), Seattle Mariners (2009-10) and Philadelphia Phillies (2010).

The club record holder for RBI in a season with 144 in 2000, Sweeney ranks in the top six all-time in Royals history in 17 offensive categories, including second in average (.299) and home runs (197).  He narrowly missed winning the 2002 A.L. batting crown, hitting .340 in 2002, the second-highest single-season average in club history to George Brett’s .390 mark in 1980.  Sweeney represented the Royals as an American League All-Star five times (2000-2003, 2005).  He is joined by George Brett (13), Amos Otis (5) and Frank White (5) as the only players in club history to make five or more All-Star appearances.

“It’s a great honor to have played in the Kansas City organization for 20 years. To be welcomed back by the Glass family, Dayton Moore, Ned Yost and the entire staff is a dream come true for me,” said Sweeney.  “The only thing I was unable to accomplish during my playing days was to bring October baseball back to Kansas City.  With this new position, my goal is to do as much as I can to help the Royals get back to being one of the prized organizations in baseball, as it was in the 1980’s.”

— Royals Media Relations —

Still riding high from their best season in recent years, the Kansas City Royals are cranking up the excitement with the introduction of their new advertising campaign and tagline, “Be Royal.”

“Last season, the Royals came to play,” said Michael Bucek, Royals Vice President-Marketing and Business Development. “Our ballclub was exciting and played meaningful games until the end of the season and our fans responded with energy and passion. As a team and a community, we proved to ourselves that we have what it takes to live up to the name on the front of our jerseys.”

Kansas City-based ad agency Walz Tetrick, now in their second year with the club, helped develop a campaign that highlights the leadership, poise and pride the Royals players bring into the clubhouse and onto the field and an unrivaled fan base that is second to none.

“We have a great tradition of baseball here in Kansas City,” said WTA president Charlie Tetrick. “So when you put on a Royals jersey, that means something. It means you’re going to play with confidence. And when fans put on their jerseys, they’re going to come out to The K, make noise, support their team and create a true home field advantage. That’s what baseball in Kansas City is all about. It’s in our blood. That’s what it means to Be Royal.”

The ‘Be Royal’ campaign will be seen throughout the preseason and regular season in TV and radio ads, outdoor boards, newspaper ads, online banners and social media.

Season tickets are currently on sale and available online at royals.com, by phone at 816-504-4040 or at the Kauffman Stadium Box Office.

— Royals Media Relations —