Royals clips Reds
Sarasota, Fla. ? Bryan Rekar pitched three solid innings before fading in 84-degree heat, and Kansas City beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 Sunday in a game that amounted to a tryout for the Royals’ rotation.
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the Reds wore green caps with their wishbone “C” embroidered over a four-leaf clover. They had no luck in the field four errors, two by catcher Jason LaRue.
The Royals are headed into the final two weeks of spring training with their rotation in flux. Rekar, part of a crowded field of candidates, got the competition started Sunday by making his first spring start after three one-inning appearances.
The right-hander gave up an infield single and two walks in the first three innings, then left after consecutive one-out doubles by Juan Encarnacion, Robin Jennings and Juan Castro in the fourth.
Left-hander Jeremy Affeldt relieved and gave up an RBI single and struck out three in 1 2-3 innings.
Four Royals pitchers closed it out with an inning apiece. The only perfect one came from Jeff Austin, who retired the side in the ninth. Kris Wilson, who didn’t pitch until March 9 because of a sore elbow, gave up three hits and two runs in an inning.