Rookie pitcher Aaron Brooks gets dinged in Royals’ 6-2 loss to Rockies

Two swift swings put the Royals down three runs in the first inning as spot starter Aaron Brooks gave up back-to-back homers to Rockies regulars Troy Tulowitzki and Justin Morneau in a 6-2 loss at Salt River Fields.

The Royals sent a skeleton crew to the game on Sunday. Only two big-league starters, Alcides Escobar and Omar Infante, made the trip. Brooks started in place of Jeremy Guthrie, who was scratched from his outing because of a stomach virus.

Brooks yielded four runs and five hits in his two innings of work. After a leadoff single, Tulowitzki boomed a two-run shot over the fence in left field. Morneau, the reigning National League batting champion, followed with a drive to center.

Brooks settled down to escape the inning without further damage. Outfielder Corey Dickerson dinged him for an RBI single in the second. Royals infielder Christian Colon continued his solid spring with a two-run single of his own in the second inning. Kelvin Herrera yielded a run in an inning of work.

This story was originally published March 15, 2015 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Rookie pitcher Aaron Brooks gets dinged in Royals’ 6-2 loss to Rockies."