Goldschmidt, Pollock hit 1st HRs in D'Backs' loss to Royals

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock each hit their first homers of spring training in the Arizona Diamondbacks' 10-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.

Omar Infante had three hits, including two doubles, and Paulo Orlando drove in two runs for the Royals, who used a five-run seventh inning to win and finished with 17 hits.

The game was delayed for five minutes between the top and bottom of the sixth inning because of a swarm of bees.

Alex Liddi's two-run double tied it at 5 for the Royals in the seventh, and Gabriel Noriega singled to score Liddi and put Kansas City ahead. Orlando doubled home Noriega, and Moises Sierra capped the rally with an RBI double.

''The young guys came through with some big hits,'' Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Pollock got the Diamondbacks' first hit when he doubled off the right-field wall in the fourth. One out later, Goldschmidt homered to tie the game at 2. Arizona took its first lead in the fifth when Pollock homered with Nick Ahmed aboard to make it 4-3.

The Royals tacked on two runs in the ninth when Ethan Chapman singled in Whit Merrifield, and Rob Navarro's throwing error allowed Liddi to score.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Danny Duffy allowed seven hits and four runs, all earned, with seven strikeouts and two walks in five innings. He threw 91 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Duffy, penciled in as the No.2 starter, cruised through the Diamondbacks' lineup once, then ran into trouble in the fourth and fifth innings, giving up the homers to Goldschmidt and Pollock. Duffy said he felt strong the entire outing and he feels his velocity is good.

''My saying this spring is `Try Less Hard,''' he said. ''After nine seasons, I'm ending spring training where I want to be.''

Last season Duffy, who turned 26 in December, started a career-high 25 games. He went 9-12 with a 3.83 ERA.

Diamondbacks: Jeremy Hellickson went 4 1/3 innings and gave up eight hits and three runs, all earned, with three strikeouts and a walk.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said the team will decide after RHP Daniel Hudson's next outing whether he will begin the season as a starter or reliever.

''That's fair to him to him and fair to everybody else,'' Hale said, adding that other pitchers in the organization are waiting to learn what their roles will be based on Hudson's situation.

Hudson is recovering from two Tommy John procedures. Hudson missed most of the 2012 season, the entire 2013 season and returned to the team late last year, making three relief appearances.

''I don't know if you've heard me say this,'' Hale said, ''but 2015 for him is just about getting healthy, get through the season healthy.''

CROWDS

The game Saturday was a sellout, drawing 13,258 at Salt River Fields, the Diamondbacks' Cactus League home. The Diamondbacks entered Saturday's games averaging 11,881 fans per game, second behind the Cubs.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez (1-2, 9.49) will face the visiting Cubs and RHP Edwin Jackson (1-1, 7.59) Sunday.

Diamondbacks: RHP Aaron Blair (1-0, 2.57) will face Rockies RHP Christian Bergman (0-0, 2.31) Sunday at Estadio Sonora in Hermosillo, Mexico. This is the 10th season the Diamondbacks have visited Hermosillo.

''It's a good time,'' Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. ''I played winter ball. It's a party atmosphere. People know their stuff. We'll have a packed house.''