SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals right-hander Chris Young took the mound in a game Sunday for the first time since starting Game 4 of the World Series.
Young pitched two innings against the Angels, giving up three hits and one run. He walked one as the Royals won, 6-1.
Young threw 27 pitches, then proceeded to the bullpen to throw eight more and complete his work day.
"Got the pitch count where it needs to be," Young said. "Got the work. Overall, physically felt good.
"Slider command was better than fastball command, which isn't usually the case this time of year. Fastball command will come with repetition. But overall threw some good pitches and made some mistakes. But I'll take it this time of year.
"This time of year you're just trying to execute and work on your strengths and improve your weaknesses. You have to start somewhere. We've gone 3 1/2 months without facing competition. I just needed to get back there and have results but still work on what you need to work on."
Golly Gee
Right-hander Dillon Gee, fighting for a spot in the rotation or the bullpen, threw two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and one walk.
"I'm happy with the results," Gee said. "There are always things you can do better, like be a little crisper. Overall, I was satisfied with the first game action.
"I was able to mix my pitches, keep it down in the zone and get ground balls. Mainly just wanted to come out alive, come out healthy."
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Sal's schedule
With catcher Salvador Perez being given a five-year extension, one would think the Royals might protect him a bit more in terms of games played.
Not the case.
"I'm not going to give him any more time off just because he signed a five-year deal," manager Ned Yost said. "We'll just manipulate it just like we did in the past. I thought we did a really good job last year.
"It all depends on what happens day to day. If he's dinged up, maybe he needs a day or two days. We don't set a number [of off-days] in our mind."
Infante may DH
Yost said Omar Infante, recovering from November surgery to shave a bone spur in an elbow, may be the DH at one of the split-squad games on Monday.
"He's getting close," Yost said. "If not Monday, soon after."