PEORIA, Ariz. ? Denny Bautista pitched five strong innings, and the Kansas City Royals beat the San Diego Padres, 4-2, Monday.

Bautista allowed one run and three hits to bolster his chance of being the Royals’ fifth starter.

And while the Royals have not officially named him their fifth starter, Bautista has impressed them this spring.

“I don’t think anybody can pitch any better than the way he has thrown,” manager Tony Pena said.

Mike Sweeney hit a two-run home run off Tim Stauffer in the first inning, and the Royals had three extra-base hits in the second, including an RBI double by Mark Teahen and a run-scoring triple by Alberto Castillo.

Bautista, who was 0-4 with a 6.51 earned-run average in five starts in September after Kansas City acquired him in a June 21 trade with the Baltimore Orioles, is 1-0 in spring training, with a 3.60 ERA. He has had 18 strikeouts and 10 walks in 192/3 innings.

“I think I can pitch in the big leagues right now,” Bautista said. “This is my best spring.”

Pitching coach Guy Hansen said the umpire’s strike zone was small, but Bautista kept calm.

“The best thing I saw out of him today was he held his poise,” Hansen said. “He wasn’t stomping on the mound, throwing down the resin. He was throwing exceptionally well and he had good velocity. He used his changeup, which we haven’t seen much of. I think that’s going to be a key pitch for him.”

Kansas City starter Denny Bautista delivers during the first inning of the Royals' 4-2 victory over San Diego. Kansas City won Monday in Peoria, Ariz.