SURPRISE, Ariz. – Texas Rangers postseason ace Colby Lewis is already getting better in spring training.

Lewis threw two shutout innings in his Cactus League debut Monday, a 12-11 victory over the Kansas City Royals that became a slugfest after he was gone. Three days earlier, the right-hander gave up five runs in an inning against the Rangers’ primary starters in an intrasquad game.

“I’m about like where I should feel. My arm feels really good, it feels like it’s bouncing back really well,” Lewis said. “There’s still some small things that I’m rushing a little bit, but that all comes with time and being out there.”

When the Rangers went to their first World Series last year, Lewis was 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in four postseason starts in his first season back from Japan to the team that drafted him in 1999.

Lewis struggled a bit with his command Monday, throwing only 17 of 33 pitches for strikes. Still, he walked just one batter and struck out one.

“He’s getting his work in and getting through it conveniently,” manager Ron Washington said.

Mike Napoli and Ian Kinsler homered for Texas. Napoli, traded from the Los Angeles Angels to Toronto and then to Texas in a five-day span last month, hit a two-run homer in the fourth. Kinsler, who is back in the leadoff spot for the Rangers, added a three-run shot later in the inning.

The Rangers took the lead for good in the seventh when Engle Beltre’s RBI groundout snapped a 10-all tie. Beltre also had a long running catch in center field.

Kansas City got homers from its top two prospects in camp, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas.

“It’s great to see Moose and Hos break out with a homer and give our fans a little bit what they’ve been hearing about,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

In 118 minor league games last season for two teams, Moustakas hit .322 with 36 homers and 118 RBIs.

Royals starter Vin Mazzaro also pitched two scoreless innings, working around a pair of leadoff doubles. He threw 25 pitches, 16 for strikes.

One of the doubles was by Michael Young, who played first base in a game for the first time ever — either in the majors, minors or even Little League. Young also had a triple.

Using a first baseman’s mitt borrowed from Chris Davis instead of a new one in his locker still being broken in, Young had two fielding chances in his four innings. There was an unassisted putout on a grounder and he took a throw from Kinsler on another grounder to second.

“Everything was pretty routine,” Young said. “No big surprises at all.”

Young is now the Rangers’ primary designated hitter and a utility infielder since they signed two-time Gold Glove winner Adrian Beltre to play third base, Young’s position the last two seasons after he had been a five-time All-Star shortstop.

“He did very well. I never doubted him,” Washington said. “I think he’s going to do a good job.”

NOTES: Will Smith, the 21-year-old left-hander acquired by the Royals from the Los Angeles Angels, was the only of seven Kansas City pitchers who had a perfect inning. “He was unflappable,” Yost said. … Rangers CF Julio Borbon had an error for the second consecutive game, though Washington didn’t sound too concerned. “He’s getting the kinks out,” the manager said. Borbon had two hits and scored two runs. … The Royals and Rangers, who share the Surprise complex, split the first two Cactus League games. The only other time they play this spring is March 20.
 

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Texas Rangers postseason ace Colby Lewis is already getting better in spring training.

Lewis threw two shutout innings in his Cactus League debut Monday, a 12-11 victory over the Kansas City Royals that became a slugfest after he was gone. Three days earlier, the right-hander gave up five runs in an inning against the Rangers’ primary starters in an intrasquad game.

“I’m about like where I should feel. My arm feels really good, it feels like it’s bouncing back really well,” Lewis said. “There’s still some small things that I’m rushing a little bit, but that all comes with time and being out there.”

When the Rangers went to their first World Series last year, Lewis was 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in four postseason starts in his first season back from Japan to the team that drafted him in 1999.

Lewis struggled a bit with his command Monday, throwing only 17 of 33 pitches for strikes. Still, he walked just one batter and struck out one.

“He’s getting his work in and getting through it conveniently,” manager Ron Washington said.

Mike Napoli and Ian Kinsler homered for Texas. Napoli, traded from the Los Angeles Angels to Toronto and then to Texas in a five-day span last month, hit a two-run homer in the fourth. Kinsler, who is back in the leadoff spot for the Rangers, added a three-run shot later in the inning.

The Rangers took the lead for good in the seventh when Engle Beltre’s RBI groundout snapped a 10-all tie. Beltre also had a long running catch in center field.

Kansas City got homers from its top two prospects in camp, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas.

“It’s great to see Moose and Hos break out with a homer and give our fans a little bit what they’ve been hearing about,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

In 118 minor league games last season for two teams, Moustakas hit .322 with 36 homers and 118 RBIs.

Royals starter Vin Mazzaro also pitched two scoreless innings, working around a pair of leadoff doubles. He threw 25 pitches, 16 for strikes.

One of the doubles was by Michael Young, who played first base in a game for the first time ever — either in the majors, minors or even Little League. Young also had a triple.

Using a first baseman’s mitt borrowed from Chris Davis instead of a new one in his locker still being broken in, Young had two fielding chances in his four innings. There was an unassisted putout on a grounder and he took a throw from Kinsler on another grounder to second.

“Everything was pretty routine,” Young said. “No big surprises at all.”

Young is now the Rangers’ primary designated hitter and a utility infielder since they signed two-time Gold Glove winner Adrian Beltre to play third base, Young’s position the last two seasons after he had been a five-time All-Star shortstop.

“He did very well. I never doubted him,” Washington said. “I think he’s going to do a good job.”

NOTES: Will Smith, the 21-year-old left-hander acquired by the Royals from the Los Angeles Angels, was the only of seven Kansas City pitchers who had a perfect inning. “He was unflappable,” Yost said. … Rangers CF Julio Borbon had an error for the second consecutive game, though Washington didn’t sound too concerned. “He’s getting the kinks out,” the manager said. Borbon had two hits and scored two runs. … The Royals and Rangers, who share the Surprise complex, split the first two Cactus League games. The only other time they play this spring is March 20.

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Michael Young changes the music on the stereo in the Texas Rangers clubhouse, then takes the bat between practice swings and uses it like a guitar as he mimics the hard-rock riff.

A new first baseman’s mitt is among several different gloves in Young’s locker. There is a smile on his face while joking around with teammates.

Though the Rangers’ longest-tenured player and career hits leader requested a trade this offseason and is changing positions again, Young is “completely comfortable” in the clubhouse.

“This is my home away from home being with these guys,” Young said Monday. “I obviously have a lot of loyalty toward them, I know they have a lot of loyalty toward me. … My place in the clubhouse has nothing to do with anything else.”

Young, now the primary designated hitter and utility infielder for Texas, played first base in a game for the first time ever — in the majors, minors or even Little League — in a Cactus League game against Kansas City on Monday.

Using a mitt borrowed from Chris Davis instead of his new one still being broken in, Young had two fielding chances in his four innings. There was an unassisted putout on a grounder and he took a throw from second baseman Ian Kinsler on another grounder. At the plate, Young was 2 for 2 with a double and a triple.

“Everything was pretty routine,” Young said. “No big surprises at all.”

Two-time Gold Glove winner Adrian Beltre was signed this winter to play third base, Young’s position the last two seasons after he had been a five-time All-Star shortstop.

The Rangers tried unsuccessfully to accommodate Young’s trade request. When he reported to spring training, he told his teammates he wasn’t going to be a distraction as the AL champions prepared for the season.

“It didn’t have to be said or addressed,” AL MVP Josh Hamilton said. “It just shows what kind of man, what kind of leader he is, and wants to put the team first more than anything.”

Young arrives at the complex about 6:30 each morning, doing a lot of early work with infield coach Dave Anderson to adjust to playing first base and reacquainting himself with second base, his position when he became a starter for the Rangers in 2001. He switched to shortstop three springs later after Texas traded Alex Rodriguez.

“After all the (offseason) stuff is finished, I have to make sure that I’m getting myself prepared to have a big year, and that’s the most important thing,” Young said. “Obviously, I feel strongly about certain things, but it’s not going to have anything to do with how I prepare for a season, and I want to make sure that’s always my No. 1 priority.

“I owe it to myself and I owe it to the guys I play with to make sure I put myself in the best possible position to have success,” said Young, who is going into his 11th season, all with Texas.

Before the Rangers finally won a playoff series and went to their first World Series last year, Young had played in 1,508 career games. That was the second-longest postseason drought for any player at the time.

The 34-year-old Young is a .300 career hitter whose 1,848 hits are the most in Rangers history. He had five consecutive 200-hit seasons (2003-07) and led the AL with a .331 average in 2005.

Asked if he felt he would still be with Texas for sure at the start of this season, Young said he didn’t really know.

“That’s one thing I learned about this offseason, it’s very unpredictable,” Young said.

General manager Jon Daniels, who has gotten inquiries from several teams about Young, has repeatedly said he will make a deal only if it makes the Rangers a better team. That mindset hasn’t changed, plus the Rangers like the role they have for Young.

“We really like our club and we’re ready to roll with the group we have,” Daniels said Monday.

Young is owed $46 million over the remaining three seasons of his contract — $15 million in each of the next two seasons and $16 million in 2013.

Manager Ron Washington said Young will be in the lineup and get plenty of at-bats as long as he is healthy, whether as the DH or in the infield.

With Ian Kinsler returning to the leadoff spot and Elvis Andrus dropping to No. 2, Young will bat sixth behind Hamilton, Beltre and Nelson Cruz. Young said he is “all for” wherever Washington wants him to hit to win games.

“Everything is going fine. I haven’t really changed my preparation. I have to do more early work at different positions. That’s fine with me. Work’s fun,” Young said. “I think a common misconception in this game is that veteran players are what they are, and I don’t accept that. … Baseball is a skills game, and I want to make sure mine are always getting better.”

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Michael Young says he’s “completely comfortable” in the Texas Rangers clubhouse after asking for an offseason trade that his team unsuccessfully tried to pull off.

A new first baseman’s mitt is in Young’s locker. There are smiles on his face when he jokes around with his teammates.

He is the longest-tenured Ranger going into his 11th season. He says what happened in the offseason has no affect on his relationship with his teammates or preparing for the season.

Now the primary designated hitter and utility infielder, Young played first base in a game for the first time ever Monday, when he took only one throw in four innings. He also had a double and triple.

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