Surprise, Ariz. ? Patrick Corbin, who was limited to 16 starts last year after returning from Tommy John surgery, threw three scoreless innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks hit three home runs in the first three innings to defeat the Kansas City Royals 12-3 on Friday.

Corbin faced 10 batters and allowed two singles.

“I thought the toughest part of it last year was just the recovery part of it, just being off for 16 months and coming off an injury,” Corbin said. “This year everything feels back to normal, a good soreness after you throw. My arm feels a lot better.”

Manager Chip Hale said Corbin would start the third game of the season with Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller starting the first two against Colorado.

Chris Herrmann, Nick Ahmed and Evan Marzilli, the Diamondbacks 7-8-9 hitters, combined to go 6 for 10 with three home runs and six RBIs.

Herrmann hit a three-run shot off Joakim Soria in the third after an Omar Infante fielding error. Ahmed and Marzilli hit back-to-back homers in the second off Chris Young, who allowed four runs on six hits.

“The results weren’t as good as I’d like, but physically I felt good,” Young said. “Actually, I felt like I threw the ball better than my last one.”

Reymond Fuentes homered in the Royals’ three-run eighth.

Paul Goldschmidt struck out in his first three at-bats before delivering a run-producing single in the Diamondbacks sixth.

Starting time

Diamondbacks: Corbin had a three-ball count on only one hitter, RF Brett Eibner, who rolled into a double play in the second inning. Corbin threw 22 strikes in 34 pitches. “I felt like I wasn’t amped up as the last time, the first time out there in a while,” Corbin said. “Mechanically everything felt smooth. The changeup felt good. The location of my fastball was really good. I tried to throw strikes and work fast. I was just trying to be efficient, go after hitters and attack.”

Royals: Young yielded home runs to Ahmed and Marzilli on three pitches in the second inning. Ahmed’s homer was a fly that barely cleared the left-field fence. “The conditions here are a little different than what you may see during the season,” Young said. “You’ve still got to make good pitches. I missed my spot a little bit. He didn’t barrel it up by any means, but he hit it well enough to get it out. If I make a better pitch, maybe it’s an out.”

Gee solid

RHP Dillon Gee, a former Mets starter who is a Royals non-roster invitee, threw three innings, allowing a run on four hits and struck out three. “I maybe ran out of gas a little bit at the end, but that’s why we’re here,” said Gee, who threw 50 pitches.

Hitless at second

Infante and Christian Colon, who are competing for the Royals second base job, are a combined 0 for 26.

Trainer’s room

Diamondbacks: OFs A.J. Pollock (sore right elbow) and Yasmany Tomas (sore left knee) will likely not play before Wednesday. . C Mark Thomas suffered an ankle injury on 1B Balbino Fuenmayor’s slide in the eighth and was replaced by Brett Hayes.

Royals: IF Cheslor Cuthbert (lower back spasms) remains sidelined.

Up next

Diamondbacks: RHP Rubby De La Rosa, who has an 11.25 ERA in his first two starts, will face the Royals at Salt River Fields. In a split-squad, RHP Archie Bradley will face the Giants.

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen, who retired all six batters he faced and struck out three in his first outing, will start against the Diamondbacks.