SURPRISE, Ariz. -- This early in camp, starting pitchers aren't supposed to have great command.
But on Saturday, Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy was in midseason form, at least early on, throwing 10 out of 13 pitches in the first inning for strikes as he fanned the side. He tired a bit in the second inning and gave up two runs on three hits, one of which was a wind-aided triple.
Kennedy threw 42 total pitches, 26 strikes, and struck out five, as the Royals lost to the White Sox, 9-5.
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"I was happy with that," Kennedy said. "Every spring, first couple of innings I just try to work on keeping the ball down. I was pumping a lot of strikes."
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Kennedy only threw four or five breaking balls, two of those changeups, a key pitch for him. And the changeup was the pitch he lost last season after a right hamstring injury sidelined him in May.
"Everything feels good," Kennedy said. "I could tell in my live [batting practice sessions] earlier this spring that my changeup was there. Last year, for 12 outings, it wasn't there. Today it felt good and it has felt good.
"Last year, having just fastball-curveball, you feel like you're pitching naked a little bit."
Tough conditions
Saturday was a brutal day for catching anything in the air because of the high sky and the windy conditions. The White Sox lost a fly ball by Ryan Goins that turned into a triple, as well as a popup behind the pitcher's mound by Alcides Escobar that turned into a double.
Royals center fielder Bubba Starling couldn't corral a fly ball to left-center field that turned into a triple, and right fielder Hunter Dozier lost a ball in the sun that turned into a triple.
Camp battles
• Starling had a nice day at the plate. He came back in the count to draw a walk against Michael Kopech in his first at-bat and singled in the fourth inning. Starling likely is headed for Triple-A Omaha, but he will likely see time in the big leagues this season.

• Left-hander Brian Flynn, who is out of Minor League options and trying to grab a spot in the bullpen, gave up six runs in one inning, but all the runs were unearned thanks to a throwing error from third baseman Jack Lopez. Dozier also lost a ball in the sun in right field during the inning.
• Left fielder Terrance Gore, with an outside shot to make the 25-man roster, threw out a runner trying to stretch a single into a double.
Up next
Right-hander Jason Hammel will make his first start of the spring as the Royals travel to Goodyear to face the Reds in a 2:05 p.m. CT start. Right-handers Wily Peralta, Michael Maness and Blaine Boyer also are expected to pitch. The game can be heard live on Gameday Audio.