Brewers pitcher Peralta struggles in 7-5 loss to Royals split squad
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Alex Gordon went 4 for 4 with a home run and a Kansas City Royals split squad beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-5 Wednesday.
A day after a swarm of bees caused a delay in the middle of the Rockies-Royals game at Surprise Stadium, some of the insects buzzed the ballpark about an hour before the first pitch. They soon flew away and there were no problems.
Gordon, who struck out in all three of his at-bats Monday against the Cubs, hit a tiebreaking home run leading off the sixth.
"Well, the last game I thought I was going to get released after the showing I had, so I had to do something today," Gordon said.
Gordon hit a monstrous shot to straightaway center off Adrian Houser.
"I did get it good, that's one of my best bullets," Gordon said. "Arizona, wind-blowing out, definitely helps. I always tell Hos (Eric Hosmer), I wish I had pop like him. This is the first day I've outswung him to center field, so I'll take it."
Hosmer homered and Mike Moustakas had a two-run double off Wily Peralta. Moustakas is 7 for 12 with four doubles and six RBIs this spring.
Royals closer Wade Davis, who had an 0.94 ERA in 69 relief appearances last year, pitched a spotless fourth, striking out one.
Hernan Perez homered for the Brewers.
Brewers: Peralta got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first when Salvador Perez rolled into a double play. Peralta felt like he got away with a pitch after falling behind 3-0 when Perez hit a pitch foul down the left field line. "It was a fastball right down the middle," Peralta said. He faced 11 batters and seven reached base -- six hits and a walk. "It's spring training, man," Peralta. "I feel 100 percent healthy. That's what I'm happy for, come into the season feel 100 percent and don't worry about anything else."
Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura gave up three runs on five hits, including two doubles, on his first 17 pitches, but then retired the final eight batters he faced. "The first inning I was little bit wild, my fastball and offspeed were up, but I made an adjustment in the second inning," Ventura said. "My location and my mechanics were a little bit off in the first inning."
NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer, who is from Emporia, Kansas, and will compete Sunday in the Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, suited up for the Royals, wearing No. 15, and brought out the lineup card. Also, actor Rob Riggle, who went to Shawnee Mission South High in the Kansas City area and a Kansas University graduate, was in camp.
Brewers LF Domingo Santana left his No 16 jersey at the Maryvale complex. He wore No. 3, but it did not hurt his hitting. He doubled leading off the game, singled in the fifth and scored two runs.
Brewers: C Jonathan Lucroy (food poisoning) returned to the lineup after missing two days and went 1 for 3 with a run-producing single. . . . RHP Jeremy Jeffress (hamstring strain) is scheduled to throw another bullpen Thursday.
Royals: 2B Omar Infante (offseason elbow surgery) played in the field for the first time. He went 0 for 3 and walked, but had no fielding chances.
Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson, who led the team with 11 victories last season, will start against the Giants.
Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy, who allowed a run on four hits over two innings in his initial start, will start against the White Sox.
