The week in Royals spring training: March 10

The Royals are in the routine of everyday baseball now. Here is the week in camp.

Friday, March 3

Royals 7 Dodgers 2 - Box Score

Royals, Ian Kennedy beat the Dodgers 7-2 behind strong pitching performance

The Royals batted around to score five runs in the third, as Ian Kennedy looked sharp in his spring debut in the 7-2 win. Kennedy faced just six hitters, retiring five of them, allowing just a walk. Christian Colón and Bubba Starling each drove home a run before Dodgers reliever Layne Somsen began struggling with his command, walking the the next three batters, forcing a run home. Josh Staumont struck out two and did not walk a hitter in two innings, but gave up a run on three hits. Raúl A. Mondesí launched a deep home run, one of two hits on the day. Peter O’Brien struggled, going 1-for-5 with four strikeouts, including twice in the third inning.

Saturday, March 4

Reds 9 Royals 7 - Box Score

Jason Vargas feels fine, but Jonathan Sanchez struggles in Royals’ 9-7 loss to Reds

Jonathan Sanchez absolutely imploded in the eighth, severely damaging his chances of making the club as a non-roster invitee. The lefty faced seven hitters and failed to retire a single one, walking two and giving up five hits. All seven would come around to score. His performance blew a 7-2 lead the Royals carried, thanks to home runs from Samir Duenez and Jorge Bonifacio. Christian Colón had a pair of hits, but Mike Moustakas and Paulo Orlando both had rough days, going hitless and each whiffing three times. Jason Vargas started for the Royals and gave up a run on three hits in two innings, but struck out three.

Royals 2 Giants 0 - Box Score

An early camp standout, Raul Mondesi helps Royals beat Giants 2-0

Jason Hammel made his Royals debut, tossing two shutout innings in quick work. Lorenzo Cain provided all the offense Kansas City would need, blasting a two-run home run, his first of the spring. Raúl Mondesí continued to earn praise from skipper Ned Yost with a two-hit performance. Mike Minor had an impressive two-inning shutout performance in relief and Kyle Zimmer tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning.

Sunday, March 5

Royals 4 Giants 3 - Box Score

Danny Duffy pleased with outing in Royals’ 4-3 win over Giants

Danny Duffy gave up a two-run single to Buster Posey, but struck out three in three innings of work. Raúl Mondesí had a pair of hits and Hunter Dozier launched a long home run to aid the offense. Jorge Bonifacio hit a ball well over 400 feet to the wall that was caught for an out. Matt Strahm looked sharp tossing three shutout innings.

“(We want to) just extend him out a little bit,” manager Ned Yost said. “We said we wanted to extend (Mike) Minor and Strahm to be that two-inning guy if we need it.”

Monday, March 6

Diamondbacks 4 Royals 1 - Box Score

Nathan Karns is sharp, but offense does little in Royals’ 4-1 loss to Arizona

Nate Karns cruised through the first three innings, but faltered a bit in the fourth after Ned Yost kept him out there to get him some more work. He gave up a walk and a single to open the inning before departing, with both runners coming around to score. Alex Gordon had a pair of hits and the only RBI for the Royals on the afternoon. Mike Moustakas made his first start at third base since tearing his ACL last May, misplaying a pop-up.

“The boys don’t let anything slide,” he said, smiling. “After I made the first play, I got a hat-tip (from teammates). And after the pop-up, I also got a hat-tip.”

Tuesday, March 7

Reds 7 Royals 3 - Box Score

Battle for fifth spot in Royals’ rotation remains unsettled after 7-3 loss to Reds

Chris Young gave up three runs in three innings, including a pair of home runs to Ryan Raburn and Eugenio Suarez, although he struck out five. Travis Wood was sharp for the first two innings of the game, but gave up a pair of runs in the third, including a triple to Arismendy Alcantara. Mike Moustakas hit a home run in the first for his first blast of the spring, and Billy Burns added a home run in the fifth. Paulo Orlando added a pair of hits, and Bubba Starling singled, although he was picked off first base.

Wednesday, March 8

Team Venezuela 11 Royals 0 - Box Score

Salvador Perez, Alcides Escobar help Venezuela thump Royals 11-0 in exhibition before WBC

Kevin McCarthy and Mike Minor each gave up four runs in relief against a tough Venezuelan lineup that included All-Stars Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Jose Altuve, and Royals Salvador Pérez and Alcides Escobar. Salvy got the offense clicking early with an RBI single in the first, one of two hits on the day. Escobar would get Salvy home in the fifth with a triple. Ian Kennedy gave up two runs in two innings of work with two strikeouts. Alex Gordon had a tough day going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.

Other notes: The Royals assigned ten players to minor league camp, including Kyle Zimmer and Josh Staumont. Brandon Moss has experienced some lower-back tightness. Bubba Starling briefly left camp for lasik readjustment surgery. Ned Yost continued experimenting with positions, including Alex Gordon in right field, Christian Colón in left field, and Peter O’Brien at catcher. The Royals will have their first of ten televised spring training games tonight on Fox Sports Kansas City against the Athletics.