Moustakas gets 2 hits for perfect Royals vs. winless Brewers

PHOENIX (AP) Mike Moustakas had two hits, including a two-run double, and the Kansas City Royals stayed perfect in Cactus League play with a 5-4 win over the winless Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.

The AL champion Royals are 6-0 and the lone unbeaten team in the majors during the exhibition season. The Brewers and Cubs are the only winless clubs at 0-5.

''Our guys are real focused about what they are doing,'' Royals manager Ned Yost said. ''Our guys are real excited about the young kids getting opportunities and it excites the kids when they see the older veterans are excited about what they are doing. It gives everybody a good feeling.''

Moustakas had been 1 for 8 this spring going into the game. Raul Mondesi, son of the former major leaguer by the same game, had two hits and drove in a run for the Royals.

Brewers star Ryan Braun fouled out and lined out, leaving him hitless in five at-bats this spring.

Matt Long and Matt Clark hit solo homers for Milwaukee.

Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson, showing his new curveball for the first time, allowed one hit in two scoreless innings in his first spring start. He's hoping an offspeed pitch will help him be more effective in the major leagues after enjoying dominant success in the minors last year.

''I liked the curveballs. When he missed, he missed down with them,'' Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. ''I think it's going to be a nice pitch for him.''

Jason Vargas gave up an RBI triple to Martin Maldonado in his first start for the Royals. Maldonado has four hits in seven spring at-bats with regular catcher Jonathan Lucroy still sidelined by an injury.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Coming off a career-best 3.71 ERA last year and a start in the AL pennant-clinching game against Baltimore, Vargas struck out three in two innings.

Brewers: Nelson went 2-9 in 12 starts with Milwaukee last year but sparkled (10-2, 1.46 ERA) in 16 starts at Triple-A Nashville.

''I threw three curveballs and a couple of changeups and they were good pitches,'' Nelson said. ''The curve is something I've been playing around with since Double-A. I have worked on it enough off a mound to put it into games. But this offseason, I put my mind to working on it and the speed difference will be big for me.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers: Roenicke said Lucroy, who has been out with a right hamstring injury suffered during a running drill in mid-February, could see his first game action by this weekend. Lucroy, who had hamstring problems much of last season but was able to play through it, will get some at-bats - but not run the bases - in some minor league intrasquad games in the middle of the week. ... LHP Dontrelle Willis, who has had a stiff neck since Saturday, could throw in a minor league game on Thursday. ... 1B Adam Lind is still a few days away with a back issue.

WHO'S ON FIRST?

With still Lind sidelined, Gerardo Parra, who won two Gold Gloves in Arizona but is the fourth outfielder in Milwaukee, has been taking groundballs at first. Roenicke said he might put him there in a game there soon.

''He played over there before and he messes around there all the time so we've been talking about it,'' Roenicke said. ''It's impressive when you watch him in workouts. So we'll see.''

UP NEXT

Royals: Kansas City is back in Surprise to face the Chicago White Sox. Starter Jeremy Guthrie will make his first Cactus League appearance.

Brewers: RHP Kyle Lohse will make his second start of the spring against the Cincinnati Reds.