SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Left-hander Robbie Ray, expected to again be part of the D-backs' rotation, threw three strong innings Monday, giving up three hits and no runs while striking out one in Arizona's 4-1 win over the Royals..
"I felt like today I was able to mix in and out a lot better than my first outing," Ray said. "That was good."
David Peralta had two hits and two RBIs for the Diamondbacks.
Right-hander Nathan Karns, vying for the Royals' No. 5 spot in the rotation, was solid again. In his first Cactus League start last week, he retired all six hitters he faced. On Monday, he retired the first eight hitters he faced before Jeff Mathis fisted an infield single.
Karns allowed two runners (both scored) in the fourth before exiting.
Royals closer Kelvin Herrera, being brought along slowly because of the long Spring Training, finally made his spring debut with a 1-2-3 fifth inning. He struck out one.
"It was pretty good," Herrera said. "No issues. I've been throwing a lot of bullpens. I'm just trusting the process."
Herrera said he didn't shake off catcher Salvador Perez once.
"I got Salvy back there," Herrera said, smiling. "He's hard to shake. He gets upset."
D-backs Up Next:Shelby Miller looks to continue his dominant spring Tuesday when he starts against the A's at 1:10 p.m. MST at Salt River Fields on MLB.TV. Miller struck out six and reached 99 mph on the radar gun last time out in a three-inning stint against the Cubs.
Royals Up Next: Left-hander Travis Wood and right-hander Christopher Young, both battling for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, will be the first two pitchers to throw for the Royals when they travel to Goodyear Stadium on Tuesday for a 2:05 p.m. CT tilt against the Reds. Backup catcher Andrew Butera, battling an oblique strain, is scheduled to see his first game action of spring.
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