Royals collect 16 hits in 8-6 exhibition win over Cleveland

Ryan McBroom and Bubba Starling sparked a 16-hit attack as the Kansas City Royals recorded their second win in as many Cactus League games, an 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark on Monday afternoon.

Twelve Royals accounted for 16 hits, including three in three at-bats (a double and two singles) by Starling. McBroom, who went 2 for 2 with three RBIs, and Cam Gallagher (two singles in three at-bats) had the other multi-hit games for Kansas City.

Right-hander Jackson Kowar, one of the organization’s top pitching prospects, got the start and pitched well, allowing three hits and no runs over two innings.

The Royals were already up 4-0 before Kowar took the mound for his second frame, roughing up reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber for four runs (three earned) in the top of the second. They collected four hits off Bieber and one off reliever Kirk McCarty, including a two-run double by Emmanuel Rivera and RBI singles by Nick Heath and Bobby Witt Jr.

The Royals scored a run in the sixth when McBroom followed singles by Kyle Isbel and Gallagher with a run-scoring double. His two-run homer in the eighth put the Royals ahead 7-3.

The Rangers rallied for three runs (two earned) against Jake Newberry in the bottom of the eighth to pull within 7-6. The right-hander allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks and a fielding error by second baseman Nick Loftin.

Royals pinch hitter Seuly Matias provided an insurance run with a solo homer in the top of the ninth. Right-hander Collin Snider pitched a scoreless bottom of the inning for the save.

In addition to Snider’s 1 1/3 scoreless innings, Jesse Hahn and Gabe Speier pitched scoreless innings for the Royals.