Kansas City Royals 8, Dodgers 2

Kansas City 8, Dodgers 2

AT THE PLATE: Matt Kemp was involved in the Dodgers’ only two runs, as well as Manager Don Mattingly’s ejection. Kemp reached base on a third-inning error by third baseman Mike Moustakas that allowed A.J. Ellis to score. Kemp pushed Ellis home again in the fifth inning, this time with a sacrifice fly. Kemp struck out looking in the seventh inning, which led to Mattingly’s protesting and drawing an ejection. Yasiel Puig was one for two with a strikeout. He is batting .526.

ON THE MOUND: Zack Greinke’s first Cactus League start since March 1 wasn’t pretty, as he was charged with five runs and six hits in three-plus innings. “The main thing was off-speed was so bad, they didn’t have to worry about it,” he said. Greinke’s night ended with his walking all three of the batters he faced in the fourth inning. Matt Guerrier inherited the runners and all of them scored.

EXTRA BASES: Chad Billingsley threw seven curveballs in his bullpen session Monday, making him increasingly optimistic that he will be able to make his first scheduled start of the regular season on April 2. Billingsley refrained from throwing any curveballs in a minor league game last week because of a bruised index finger. Mattingly said earlier in the day that he’d skip Billingsley’s first turn in the rotation if he couldn’t throw all of his pitches.

UP NEXT: vs. Colorado at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix. On the air: TV: Ch. 9; Radio: 570

— Dylan Hernandez