KANSAS CITY – Royals center fielder Billy Hamilton feels lucky his sprained knee was not worse after he was carted off the field during the ninth inning of Thursday’s tough 7-6 loss to Seattle, the Royals’ 10th straight.

Hamilton was tracking a deep fly off the bat of Mitch Haniger and appeared to have tracked it for what would have been the final out of a victory. Instead, the ball glanced off his glove at the warning track, resulting in a two-run triple that tied the score.

Hamilton twisted his left knee on the play, and an MRI later showed a bone bruise and sprained MCL. Hamilton was not in the starting lineup Friday, but tested the knee during pregame and said it felt much better.

“When I first did it, I thought it was way worse than what the outcome turned out to be,” Hamilton said. “It’s too early [in the season] for something [severe] like that. I want to play every day, through the bumps and bruises. I want to battle with the team and be a part of that battle. I’m going to do all I can to get back in the lineup.

“I had a bunch of treatment today and it feels way better than it did yesterday. I know those things can linger around, but it depends on the type of person you are, how your body heals. I’m going to have pain for however long, I don’t know. It’s something I can tolerate.”

Hamilton was still angry at himself for not making the catch, though he admits the wind and sun were factors.

“The wind was swirling and it was one of those days where it was cloudy and sunny at the same time,” he said, “so at the end of the cloud, the sun was coming out on that play. The ball was in the cloud, but toward the end, the ball actually got right in the sun. That’s a play I make and should have made. The sun was a big factor and I had to take my eye off it a little bit. But I was mad at myself all last night because I have to make that play. That play is on me.

“The ball was carrying but I have to make that catch.”