Infante feeling better; Escobar returns to lineup

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals may have dodged another bullet with an injury to a middle infielder.

Second baseman Omar Infante said he felt better on Monday after sustaining a left groin strain during the Royals' 4-2 win over the A's on Sunday. Infante appeared to hurt the groin after hitting a double in the fifth inning -- he winced after he reached second base.

Infante came out of the game after the next batter.

"Feels much better today," Infante said before the Royals' 7-1 win over the Twins in the series opener at Kauffman Stadium.

Infante wasn't in the lineup on Monday, but manager Ned Yost said Infante could be used in an emergency by Tuesday night.

As of now, Yost said, it doesn't appear Infante will be a candidate for the disabled list.

Video: OAK@KC: Hard slide injures Escobar, benches clear

Meanwhile, shortstop Alcides Escobar, who has been out since Friday with a mild knee sprain and bruise, was back in the lineup on Monday night and hitting leadoff, where he went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

"It's good right now and I'm happy to be back in the lineup," Escobar said prior to the game.

Even now, Escobar is a bit amazed he was not hurt more seriously when Oakland's Brett Lawrie slid hard into him.

"I thought I broke my leg or my ankle," Escobar said. "When I see the replay, I say 'Wow. That's hard.'"

But Escobar is not interested in revisiting the debate about whether the slide was done with intent to cause injury.

"Right now, I'm thinking that it's in the past," he said.