TEMPE, Ariz. -- The only result Royals right-hander Jason Hammel was worried about Sunday in an 8-7 victory over the Angels was how effective his changeup would be.
Hammel, the Royals' No. 3 starter, will be introducing that changeup to his arsenal this season, especially to left-handers.
"My whole goal this spring was to make the changeup an effective pitch, and I think I accomplished that," Hammel said. "I had a little trouble in that one inning, hit some barrels, but overall that went well."
That one inning was the fifth when Hammel was hit for six runs. Overall, he went six innings and gave up eight hits and seven runs in the victory.
Despite the line, Hammel said he is right where he needs to be after making his final Cactus League start.
"Honestly, I felt great about it except for the fifth inning," he said. "Honestly, I was pushing the changeup today. Just a bad inning, up in the zone. Lot of ground balls away from defenders.
"But I was happy to go out and get the sixth inning in after that, and I could have gone seven. I'm ready."