Santana homers as Royals play to 4-4 tie with Angels

Carlos Santana homered and drove in three runs as the Kansas City Royals played to a 4-4 tie with the Los Angeles Angels on Friday afternoon.

The offseason free-agent addition had two of the Royals’ six hits, driving in two runs on a fourth-inning double before hitting a solo blast in the sixth. Bubba Starling drove in Kyle Isbel with an eighth-inning single for Kansas City’s only other run.

Royals starter Brady Singer was solid over five innings — the longest outing by a Kansas City pitcher this spring. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out four while allowing three earned runs, all on a Scott Schebler homer in the fourth, along with five hits and a walk.

Kyle Zimmer followed Singer and threw two innings, yielding one earned run on three hits while striking out three. Alec Marsh walked two in a scoreless eighth, while Greg Holland punched out two during a perfect ninth inning.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez had a stellar day behind the plate, picking off Angels outfielder Juan Lagares at first base and throwing out prospect Jack Kruger at second base in the fifth.

The Royals are back in action on Saturday afternoon, visiting the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. Kansas City will send Danny Duffy to the hill for his fourth start of the spring, while Luke Weaver is slated to start for the Diamondbacks.