ATHLETICS 11, ROYALS 10
at Surprise, Ariz.
Wednesday, March 21

Athletics at the plate: Mike Piazza hit his second Spring Training home run in the first inning. In a five-run third, Nick Swisher, Mark Ellis and Dan Johnson hit back-to-back-to-back home runs. Swisher's fourth home run of March was a three-run shot.

Royals at the plate: Esteban German singled in his first at-bat to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Alex Gordon doubled in his first two at-bats and drove in three runs. Ross Gload went 3-for-4, including a double, to raise his average to .459. Emil Brown hit a two-run pinch homer in the sixth.

Athletics on the mound: Joe Blanton allowed seven runs, five earned, on 11 hits, in four innings. He walked none and struck out two. Alan Embree worked a scoreless fifth, walking one, striking out two and not giving up a hit.

Royals on the mound: Brian Bannister gave up seven runs on nine hits, four of them home runs, in three innings, while striking out one and walking two. Joakim Soria struck out six in three innings. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk.

Cactus League records: Athletics 11-10; Royals 19-12

Up next: The Royals and A's will meet again on Thursday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Jorge De La Rosa will start for the Royals, while Joe Kennedy will be is the A's probable.