SURPRISE, Ariz. — That new slogan, where the Royals pledge to “Come to Play” in 2013…this must be what they mean.

The Royals scored five runs in the first inning Monday afternoon before applying a pair of knockout punches with a four-run fourth and a five-run fifth in a 16-4 bludgeoning of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Surprise Stadium.

The 19-hit attack included a pair of rocket-blast homers in the fifth inning by Max Ramirez and Adam Moore. Ramirez pumped a grand slam high onto center-field grass berm.

Moore followed with a monster blast to left that appeared to go through the picket fence beyond the berm that overlooks the bullpen.

“That one Moore hit,” DH Billy Butler marveled, “is one that no matter where you are in the stadium, if you hear that, you know it’s gone.”

The Royals, 3-0-1, struck for five runs in the first against Randall Delgado, whom the D-Backs obtained from Atlanta in the off-season trade for Justin Upton.

Chris Getz’s high one-out drive to left started the explosion when ex-Royal Willie Bloomquist lost the ball in the high sky. It fell for a double. Eric Hosmer, Butler, Mike Moustakas, Jeff Francoeur and Elliot Johnson followed with singles.

Throw in two errors, and the result was five runs.

Royals starter Chris Dwyer breezed through the first inning but failed to complete the second. He left with two outs and the bases loaded after allowing a double and three walks. No runs had scored at that point because of a double play.

Nate Adcock appeared to end the inning by striking out John McDonald but didn’t get the call. McDonald then drove a two-run single up the middle. The D-Backs added another run when Getz misplayed Adam Eaton’s grounder for an error.

Arizona close to 5-4 with a run in the fourth against Noel Arguelles before the Royals blew open the game with a four-run fourth and a five-run fifth.

Butler keyed the fourth with a two-run, two-out double over Eaton’s head in center. Ramirez and Moore put the game out of reach in the fifth.

“Sixteen runs on 19 hits?” manager Ned Yost said. “That’s ... taking advantage of some opportunities to get some runs in.”

Arms race

Lefty Noel Arguelles allowed one run and three hits in two innings after replacing Nate Adcock to start the fourth inning. Arguelles worked steadily at 90 mph and, according to the scoreboard radar touched 92 on one occasion.

“Arguelles was much better in his second inning than in his first,” manager Ned Yost said, “but his changeup was phenomenal.”

Arguelles also flashed an effective curve while throwing 20 of 31 pitches for strikes. He underwent shoulder surgery in 2010 shortly after signing a five-year deal for $6.9 million following his defection from Cuba.

Reliever J.C. Gutierrez, in his spring debut, pitched a one-two-three sixth inning against his former club. Gutierrez is a top candidate for the final spot in the bullpen.

Regular guys

Catcher Adam Moore is doing his best to play his way into competition with George Kottaras and Brett Hayes for duty as Salvy Perez’s backup. Moore has two homers and a single in six at-bats.

“It’s four games,” he said, “but, at the same time, you’ve got to make them all count. I feel confident. I feel good at the plate. I’m getting pitches I can hit. Ball up in the zone, and I’m just letting it take care of itself.”

Stat wrap

Five of the Royals’ starters went two for three before leaving the game: Chris Getz, Billy Butler, Mike Moustakas, Jeff Francoeur and Elliot Johnson.

Defining defense

Right fielder Jeff Francoeur collected his first spring assist by catching Willie Bloomquist by surprise in the fifth inning.

Bloomquist looped a leadoff single into short right that fell between Francoeur, first baseman Eric Hosmer and second baseman Chris Getz.

When Bloomquist rounded hard at first, pitcher Noel Arguelles snuck in behind him to scoop a throw from Francoeur and apply the tag.

“He did a good job of scooping it,” Francoeur said. “I’ll give him that.”

Hosmer made a nice scoop on an errant throw by Getz that completed a double play in the Arizona second inning. Getz committed an error later in the same inning on a two-out grounder that allowed a run to score.

Medical updates

Outfielder Lorenzo Cain took regular batting practice for the second straight day and should make his spring debut later in the week. Barring a change, it won’t be Tuesday because he isn’t on the travel list for the game against Cleveland in Goodyear.

Cain suffered an injury to his right hand — a strain between the knuckles — during drills in the camp’s first week.

Lefty swingman Everett Teaford tested his sore shoulder Monday by throwing a bullpen workout. It was his first such session since halting a similar session on Feb. 13.

Right-hander Felipe Paulino is scheduled to throw from a mound Tuesday for the first time since leaving a June 6 game against Minnesota because of a sore elbow. He subsequently underwent surgery July 3 to repair a torn ligament.

Paulino is scheduled for 20 pitches — all fastballs. His timetable projects a mid-July return to full duty.

Etc.

Casey Wilcox, a Kansas City native, is the Diamondbacks’ director of player and media relations. He was recently cited as one of the “16 Most Eligible Bachelors in the Valley of the Sun” by a Phoenix magazine.

That’s right, ladies, we have so much talent in the Kansas City area that we can export.

Notables

The Royals were 10 for 16 with runners in scoring position and raised their team average to .361.

Right-handed pitcher Nate Adcock turned 25 on Monday.

Former Royal Mark Teahen went one for three with a walk and two strikeouts as the Arizona DH. Willie Bloomquist was one for three before leaving after five innings.

On deck

The Royals leave Surprise for the first time this spring Tuesday when they make the 20-minute drive down Litchfield Road to Goodyear to play the Cleveland Indians.

New-acquisition Wade Davis makes his spring debut as the Royals begin rolling out the guys projected to comprise their starting rotation.

The cycle continues Wednesday with Luke Hochevar, Thursday with James Shields and Friday with Ervin Santana before concluding Saturday with Jeremy Guthrie.

Once Davis pitches, Tuesday’s plans call for a second spring look at right-hander Yordano Ventura along with Justin Marks and bullpen candidates Donnie Joseph and Dan Wheeler.

Up next

Royals (RHP Wade Davis) vs. Rangers (RHP Matt Albers), at 2:05 p.m. Central in Goodyear, Ariz.

Quotebook

“I think Frenchy (Jeff Francoeur) was joking with me a little bit there (by signaling the need to slide). The ball was cut off, and I was sliding into home. And a big guy like me is going to move some dirt around.”

— Billy Butler on the dust storm created on his slide at the plate when he scored from second base on Mike Moustakas’ single in the fourth inning.

Countdown to Opening Day: 34 days