Surprise, Ariz. ? Gil Meche pitched three innings Monday before leaving the Kansas City Royals’ 9-5 victory over the White Sox due to a sore right shoulder.

Meche allowed three runs and four hits, struck out one and walked one. He threw 31 of his 56 pitches for strikes.

“The reason I came out was because I felt some stiffness in my shoulder,” Meche said. “I didn’t want to push it with the season coming up. It’s nothing serious. I did all the tests. They checked me out. The shoulder is strong, but the tightness is there.”

“There’s no pain going on, so I’m not worried about it.’

Meche was limited to 23 starts and 129 innings because of shoulder and back problems in 2009.

“Last year I did push through things and I know where that got me,” Meche said. “I want to make sure I feel 100 percent when the season starts.”