John Buck breaks his bat on the way to an out against the Rockies in the third inning. Kansas City lost to Colorado, 10-7, on Friday at Surprise, Ariz.

Surprise, Ariz. ? Brian Bannister’s poor September has not scared him into thinking about how he’s going to pitch at the end of the 2008 season. He’s focused on starting off strong.

Bannister was hit hard again, giving up five runs and six hits in the Kansas City Royals’ 10-7 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Friday.

Bannister, who is 0-1 with a 10.80 earned-run average in his two spring starts, allowed three runs in the third, including a home run to Brad Hawpe on a 1-2 pitch with Todd Helton on base.

“I made all my mistakes when I was ahead in the count,” Bannister said. “Hawpe guessed right and that was my disappointing pitch. Otherwise, it would have been decent if not for that pitch.”

Bannister was 12-9 with a 3.87 earned run average as a rookie last season, but faded in his final four starts, going 0-2 with a 10.26 ERA. Bannister is penciled in as the Royals’ No 3 starter.

“In my previous two spring trainings, I was fighting to make the club and I was 100 percent ready to go at the end of January,” Bannister said. “I’m just really, really trying to be smart this year and take a different approach.”

Ben Hendrickson replaced Bannister in the fourth and walked two Rockies with the bases loaded. Jimmy Gobble also walked three in the ninth, including Christian Colonel with the bases loaded.

“We didn’t pitch too good,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said. “We walked seven. We let three in on base on balls and then let in a couple of more on the two errors. It should have been a lot different game.”

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle had pitching problems of his own and has to adjust his rotation.

Aaron Cook was scratched Friday with inflammation of his right shoulder. Jason Hirsch, who missed a start Wednesday with right shoulder soreness, has also been bumped from his Sunday start.

“We’ve got two guys who woke up a little sore,” Hurdle said. “We try to error on the side of caution early in spring. If they miss another start, we might be looking at something different.”

Kip Wells, who was 7-17 with a 5.70 ERA last season with St. Louis, replaced Cook and picked up the victory, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks in four innings.

“Wells is in the mix for the fourth and fifth rotation spots,” Hurdle said.

Hawpe went 3-for-3, walked and drove in three runs to lead the Rockies’ 14-hit attack, while Helton went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs.

Mark Teahen, who had missed the previous two games with a tender forearm, hit a two-run homer in the fifth and drove in three of the Kansas City runs.

Notes: The Rockies released LHP Sean Thompson, a non-roster invitee. … Luke Hochevar, the first player picked in the 2006 draft, worked 22â3 scoreless innings in the Royals’ 3-2 triumph over the Texas Rangers in a morning B game. Hochevar gave up three hits and struck out three, while walking two. … LHP Mike Maroth, who has been held out with a stiff shoulder, is scheduled to pitch Sunday in the Royals’ B game.