Veteran utility player Matt Beaty hit two of the Royals' four home runs as Kansas City beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-6 in a Cactus League matchup at Surprise Stadium on Sunday.
Beaty, who is in Royals camp on a minor league deal, started in left field — the third position he has played this spring — and finished 3 for 3 with three RBIs. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter is batting .409 with a 1.253 OPS in Cactus League action.
Two other non-roster players also went deep in the victory. Franmil Reyes hit a solo shot in the sixth, and Dairon Blanco hit a two-run blast in the seventh. Like Beaty, Reyes has been one of the standouts of camp, hitting .391 with a 1.220 OPS.
Center fielder John Rave showcased his highly regarded defensive skills with two outs in the ninth, throwing out Cleveland's Jhonkensy Noel at second base to seal the victory.
Left-handed starter Daniel Lynch was solid once again in his push for a rotation spot, allowing one run over three innings on four hits and two walks. He has a 3.60 ERA over 10 innings this spring.
Lefties Amir Garrett and Josh Taylor each threw a scoreless, hitless inning out of the bullpen.
The Royals are off on Monday and will return to action with a split-squad doubleheader on Tuesday. Brad Keller is scheduled to start in an afternoon matchup against the Mariners in Peoria, while Zack Greinke will face the Reds in the nightcap at Surprise Stadium. The night game will air on Bally Sports Kansas City at 8 p.m. CT.
