KANSAS CITY ROYALS PITCHER BRIAN BANNISTER lays on the ground after being hit by a batted ball during a B game against the Texas Rangers. Bannister was unable to continue playing Sunday.

TUCSON, ARIZ. ? Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki spent some uneasy hours Sunday morning at the hospital getting x-rays for what he feared might be a broken wrist.

The 22-year-old got good news: his wrist is bruised, not broken. And while Colorado was busy beating the Kansas City Royals 5-4, Tulowitzki was breathing a huge sigh of relief.

Tulowitzki, competing with Clint Barmes for a starting job, feared his right hand might have been broken after being hit by a pitch from San Diego’s Doug Brocail on Saturday.

“I was very nervous, things start coming to your mind, but as I calmed down everything fell into place,” Tulowitzki said. “I am able to squeeze my hand pretty pain free. (Monday) will be a big day seeing how it feels throwing and taking some swings in the cages.”

The Rockies first-round draft pick in 2005 says he is not going to rush back into play, but he’s not going to waste any time either.

“I am trying to win a job, and I have to prove myself. I want to get back on the field as soon as I can,” Tulowitzki said.

Tulowitzki is hitting .385 this spring with two doubles and four RBI.

“The doctors checked me out and said they were pretty sure nothing was broken, but it was a relief when the x-rays came back and it was negative,” Tulowitzki said.

The Rockies shortstop missed a pitcher’s duel between Joakim Soria of the Royals and Josh Fogg of the Rockies.

Soria allowed just a bunt single to Willy Taveras in four scoreless innings, striking out three and walking none. It was the third straight impressive spring outing by the 22-year-old who was acquired in December after he spent the majority of last year pitching for the Mexico City Red Devils, where he had 15 saves and a 3.89 ERA.

Soria has given up one run and three hits in eight innings so far this spring.

Fogg went four innings, giving up one run and two hits. Byung-Hyun Kim followed with four innings, allowing an unearned run while striking out six and walking two.

Kansas City’s Billy Butler broke up a ninth-inning tie with a 2-run homer off Danny Graves to give the Royals a 4-2 lead. Colorado’s Seth Smith responded with a walk-off three-run homer to center off Roberto Giron.

Todd Helton, back in the lineup again for the first time since Tuesday, went 0-for-3. The Rockies first baseman has been bothered by an inflamed right knee the past two weeks.