SURPRISE, Ariz. – Zack Greinke struggled through his first Cactus League start in 3½ weeks, and the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Monday night.
Greinke gave up five runs and six hits over three-plus innings in his first major league outing since March 1. The right-hander, who won the 2009 AL Cy Young Award with Kansas City, signed a $147 million, six-year contract to join the Dodgers in the offseason but has been slowed this spring by a sore elbow and the flu.
Greinke threw 40 of 64 pitches for strikes. He walked the first three batters in the fourth and was replaced by Matt Guerrier, who allowed all three to score.
Royals right-hander Wade Davis allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and three walks in five innings. Salvador Perez had a two-run double in the first.
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