The Royals lost to the Rangers 6-4 in Surprise, Arizona on Thursday. Starter Jose Lima lasted six innings and allowed four runs—two earned—off six hits. He had three strike outs and no walks. The Royals took a 4-0 lead in the second when Angel Berroa scored on a double play. Alfonso Soriano drove in three runs for Texas thanks to a single and two-run homer. Gary Matthews Jr. hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh to snap a 4-4 tie.
The Cardinals got five innings from starting pitcher Mark Mulder in a 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals in Jupiter, Florida. Mulder didn’t give up any runs, as St. Louis took all three spring training match ups from Washington. The offensive attack was balanced for the Cardinals, as five different players drove in runs on Thursday. Mike Myers and Jason Isringhausen worked perfect eighth and ninth innings, chalking up two strike outs apiece.
