Gordon remains optimistic about speedy return after so-so spring debut
When Alex Gordon left Saturday's 6-4 loss to the White Sox on Saturday, it was a success.
It wasn't because he went 0 for 3. It wasn't because he put two balls in play. It sure wasn't because he slipped fielding a ball in the first inning.
Instead, Gordon's day was a success simply because it happened. Gordon finally played a Cactus League game this spring after recovering from right wrist surgery in the offseason. He had played in minor league games this spring, but hadn't appeared in a major league game until Saturday. The 31-year-old hit third for Kansas City and played his customary left field.
He struck out looking on four pitches in the first inning against Brad Penny and then lined out to first three innings later. Gordon grounded out to shortstop in the sixth before he was pulled in favor of Paulo Orlando in the bottom half of the frame.
Saturday was the first step for Gordon to return to the lineup in time for Opening Day, a deadline he has told reporters he plans to meet.
The Royals opened a 4-0 lead before Chicago scored six unanswered runs, punctuated by Courtney Hawkins' walk-off two-run homer off Brandon Finnegan in the ninth inning.
3 UP
• Blanton's start. Who would have guessed it would be Joe Blanton to be the first Royals pitcher to throw more than four innings? Blanton gave up one run on six hits in 4 2/3 innings while striking out three. He also walked two and threw 83 pitches.
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Blanton allowed a White Sox baserunner in each of the first four innings but wriggled his way out of trouble each time. In the fifth, though, he walked Adam Eaton, who advanced to third on J.B. Shuck's single to right. Eaton came in on Jose Abreu's sacrifice fly, which finished Blanton's day.
Blanton hasn't pitched in the majors since 2013 and is trying to make a return from a retirement he announced last year. He gives Kansas City starting pitching depth in the minor leagues.
• Long balls. Brett Eibner and Erik Kratz each hit home runs that staked the Royals to an early four-run lead. Eibner continued his torrid spring by smashing his third home run of the spring, lifting his Cactus League average to .520 and his RBI total to six. Not everything went great for Eibner on Saturday, though, as he left in the fourth with a foot injury.
Kratz, who already has a roster spot as the backup catcher in hand, clubbed his second home run of the spring in the fourth inning off Jake Petricka. It was a two-run homer that also scored Christian Colon.
• Dyson's arm. Jarrod Dyson showed off his throwing arm with an outfield assist in the third inning, chopping down Shuck at third base. With Shuck on first, Abreu lofted a single into right-center field, where Dyson cut the ball off. Shuck tried to go first to third and Dyson fired a one-hopper to Mike Moustakas, who easily applied the tag.
3 DOWN
• Left-handed relievers. Both Franklin Morales and Finnegan had rough days for the Royals, each giving up home runs to Hawkins that resulted in four of Chicago's six runs on the day.
Entering Saturday's game, Morales had given up only one run in seven innings pitched, but gave up three in his one frame against the White Sox. Morales struck out the first batter he faced, but then gave up two singles and Hawkins' blast.
Finnegan, meanwhile, watched as a tough spring became tougher. He held a 7.20 ERA in three appearances before Saturday, and gave up his second homer of the spring when Hawkins won the game in the ninth.
• Slippery outfield grass. In his first inning of Cactus League play this year, Gordon may have made the blooper reel. Chicago's Shuck lined a base hit into left-center, where Gordon ran to field the ball. But Gordon's grip gave out and he fell to the Camelback Ranch turf. Dyson fielded the ball and threw it back into the infield. Shuck ended up at second with a double.
• Eibner's foot. Eibner left Saturday's game after fouling a ball off his left foot in the fourth inning. He remained in the game to finish his at-bat, which ended in an inning-ending double play, but hobbled off the diamond after the frame.
Eibner has been a pleasant surprise for the Royals this spring but doesn't figure into their major league plans this season.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Royals will finally find out what would have happened if they faced a San Francisco team without Madison Bumgarner. The Giants visit Surprise Stadium on Sunday for a 3 p.m. tilt.
Danny Duffy will start his fourth Cactus League game and right-handed relievers Louis Coleman, Wade Davis and Greg Holland will also pitch.
You can follow Matthew DeFranks on Twitter at @MDeFranks or email him at matthew.defranks@gmail.com.
