Royals fall to Diamondbacks, beat up on Padres

Diamondbacks (ss) 8, Royals (ss) 6

Surprise, Ariz. — Arizona reliever J.J. Putz pitched a perfect inning, and the Diamondbacks outhomered the Kansas City Royals in a split-squad game Monday.

A wind that gusted up to 29 mph toward right-center field helped several balls fly over the wall.

Juan Mirando, Konrad Schmidt, A.J. Pollock and Ryan Wheeler homered for the Diamondbacks. Pollock hit a three-run shot and Wheeler also connected in a four-run ninth off rookie Kevin Pucetas.

Melky Cabrera, Kila Ka’aihue and Clint Robinson homered for the Royals. Ka’aihue’s three-run homer gave him a team-leading eight RBIs.

Putz, signed to be the Diamondbacks’ closer, worked a flawless fourth in his spring debut. He got three groundball outs on nine pitches.

Royals (ss) 11, Padres 3

Peoria, Ariz. — Sean O’Sullivan pitched efficiently and benefited from two laser throws by catching phenom Salvador Perez as a Kansas City Royals split squad beat the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

It was a matchup of teams that will have two of the lowest payrolls in baseball.

O’Sullivan, who went to high school in the San Diego area, gave up a long opposite-field home run to Brad Hawpe on a windy night, one of the two hits he allowed in three innings. O’Sullivan, one of six pitchers vying for five spots, struck out two and walked two.