Dave Akers of Surprise, Ariz., watches a spring training game between the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers. The Rangers won, 12-7, Wednesday in Surprise, Ariz.

Surprise, Ariz. ? The only problem Kris Benson had in his Texas debut was waiting 20 minutes between innings as his new teammates circled the bases.

Benson allowed one run and two hits in two crisp innings, and the Rangers backed him with nine early runs Wednesday in a 12-7 exhibition victory over the Kansas City Royals.

“That little break got me out of my groove a little bit, but I’ll take it any day,” Benson said.

Signed to a minor-league contract Saturday, Benson, who is coming off rotator cuff surgery, hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2006. He needed only seven pitches to end the first inning, but allowed a long home run to designated hitter Billy Butler in the second before inducing a double play to end his outing.

Hank Blalock hammered the first pitch he saw for a two-run homer to highlight a six-run first inning against Kansas City starter Horacio Ramirez. Blalock, who will be a full-time designated hitter this year, followed back-to-back homers from Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz in the second by tripling high off the right-field wall.

“The first time on the mound is the toughest. Everyone is adjusting to the game speed,” Ramirez said.