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The Royals raked out 17 hits Sunday afternoon and pulled away in the later innings for a 13-3 victory over a San Francisco Giants split-squad at Surprise Stadium.
Esteban German went two for four with four RBIs but missed the chance for an even bigger day by stranding five runners in his two other at-bats. Joey Gathright, David DeJesus and Ross Gload also had two hits apiece.
Zack Greinke yielded just one run and three hits in five innings but settled for a no-decision because the Royals, 10-8, failed to cash repeated scoring opportunities against Giants starter Victor Santos.
Eleven of the first 18 Royals reached safely but managed just one run.
The Giants, 6-14-2, had a 3-1 lead after scoring twice in the sixth against Mike Maroth, but the Royals ravaged Billy Sadler for five runs in the sixth and Kevin Gryboski for seven runs in the seventh.
ARMS RACE
Greinke retired 11 of the last 12 hitters and generally breezed through his five innings.
“I knew I was pitching well,” he said, “but there were a couple of nice plays in the field. That just makes it a lot easier. You know you’re pitching well, and when that happens, it keeps the momentum going.”
Maroth escaped major damage in the sixth after following successive leadoff doubles with three straight walks. A fielder’s-choice grounder, which resulted in a force at home, and a double play limited the Giants to two runs.
Jimmy Gobble struck out two in a one-two-three ninth inning. It was his second straight scoreless appearance since having a second cactus needle removed March 9 from his right big toe.
REGULAR GUYS
Gload made two nice running catches in right field. His diving grab on Garrett Baker’s sinking liner in the fourth saved a possible inside-the-park homer.
Those catches resulted, in part, from a decision to have outfielders play three or four steps closer to the infield.
“I was just tired of seeing balls fall in front of us,” manager Trey Hillman said. “We’re just going to take a look at doing that all of the time. Everybody knows we’ve got a big place at Kauffman, where we play a majority of our games.”
MOVES AND DEALS
Reliever Ryan Braun was optioned to Class AAA Omaha before Sunday’s game. He made just two spring appearances and allowed one run, two hits and three walks in two innings. Braun, 27, split last season between the Royals and Omaha. He was 2-0 with a 6.64 ERA in 26 big-league games.
INJURY UPDATES
The news is all pretty good. Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek minimized concerns over the strained muscle in his lower back, and catcher Miguel Olivo declared himself ready to play today after suffering a strained right groin in Friday’s game.
Flu victims Jose Guillen and Billy Butler also took part in morning workouts.
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