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Royals day in camp
Gil Meche gave up four runs in the first inning Wednesday afternoon, and the Royals never recovered in an 8-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Surprise Stadium.
Meche had allowed only five runs in 16 2/3 innings in his four previous spring starts before getting roughed up by his old team. He recovered well by yielding only one run and two hits over his final four innings.
The Royals hit three homers and twice closed to within one run at 4-3 and 5-4 before the Mariners put the game away with Brad Wilkerson’s two-run homer in the seventh against Leo Nuñez.
Royals utility infielder Jason Smith hit two homers, including an inside-the-park sprint in the second inning when center fielder Willie Bloomquist failed to make a leaping catch on a deep drive.
ON DECK
The Royals break camp in Arizona after today’s game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. The game starts one hour earlier than usual to accommodate getaway day for both teams. The Rangers have won all four previous games between the campus co-tenants.
ARMS RACE
If Meche needed a spring mulligan, this was it. He wasn’t hit particularly hard in his final tune-up for Monday’s season opener in Detroit, but he paid the price for reverting to an old mechanical flaw.
“I started the hill-banging thing again in the first inning,” Meche said. “Mac came out there and said, ‘Get off your heel, you’re going to hurt yourself.’ It was the worst, he said, that he’s seen in camp.”
Mac is pitching coach Bob McClure; the “hill-banging thing” is Meche’s old habit of bringing his plant foot down on his heel instead of his toe in his follow-through.
“It was one of those innings that everybody seems to have in camp,” Meche said. “I hadn’t had one yet. Unfortunately, it came today in the first. I was able to get things together after that. I had good stuff. The last four (innings) went pretty good.”
REGULAR GUYS
Catcher Miguel Olivo played for the first time since suffering a strained right groin March 14 against the Rangers and hit a two-run homer in his first at-bat. It landed two-thirds of the way up the grass berm beyond the center-field wall.
Billy Butler raised his average to .387 by going two for three with a walk in four plate appearances.
INJURY UPDATES
The roster squeeze suggests pitcher Hideo Nomo could be a candidate for the disabled list after suffering a strained right groin in Tuesday’s victory over the Padres.
“We don’t think it’s pulled extensively,” Hillman said, “but we don’t think it’s a cramp. I’m hopeful that by the time we get to Milwaukee that he’ll be able to pitch.”
Outfielder David DeJesus remains sidelined by a sore ankle suffered in Monday’s 10-9 victory over the Dodgers. Hillman said DeJesus won’t play in today’s Arizona finale.
Hillman also confirmed right-hander Luke Hudson will remain in extended spring training while recovering from major shoulder surgery. Hudson appeared to be making strong progress until recently.
“We’re working on strengthening his shoulder capsule,” Hillman said. “He’s still another five to seven days away from being able to pick up a baseball and start throwing again.”