Font ResizePHOENIX -- Starter Tommy Milone gave up his first runs in three outings this spring but the A's got 51/3 innings of shutout relief from six pitchers and rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 Tuesday.
Milone, projected to be the A's No. 3 starter, gave up three earned runs in 32/3 innings, including a long homer to Alex Gordon to lead off the game. On the plus side, Milone threw 60 pitches, didn't walk a batter and struck out a pair. Milone hasn't walked a batter in his first 82/3 innings this spring.
"The main goal of the spring is getting your pitch count up as a starter, and get up 4-5 times during a game," Milone said. "I was able to do that today."
Jerry Blevins got the last out of the fourth, then the A's got shutout innings from Pat Neshek, Ryan Cook, Jordan Norberto, Chris Resop and Evan Scribner.
Yoenis Cespedes had his first extra-base hit of the spring, an RBI double in the fourth, and Brandon Moss followed with a two-run single. Eric Sogard drove in what proved to be eventual winning run with a fifth-inning double.
Second baseman Jemile Weeks (shoulder) and outfielder Michael Taylor (lacerated right pinkie) could return to game action as soon as Thursday.
Left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson, who suffered a strained right trapezia muscle covering third in a game Sunday, pushed back his scheduled bullpen session one day but Melvin said it shouldn't impact Anderson's pitching schedule.
A's right-hander Fernando Rodriguez was scheduled to have an MRI on his elbow after leaving Monday's game after one batter with tightness. Results were expected Wednesday.
