SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Andruw Jones got quite a workout at Texas Rangers camp Friday.
Jones went 2-for-4 with a walk in Texas' 8-7 loss to Kansas City, a game that started less than an hour after the five-time All-Star and non-roster outfielder went 3-for-5 with a home run in a "B" game against the Royals on a back field.
"Trying to get some good rhythm going, and today was a good day. I had a couple of good solid contacts," Jones said. "Everything paid off in a good way."
Mario Lisson had a pair of RBI singles for Kansas City in the Cactus League game, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth off minor leaguer Andrew Laughter.
Brandon Boggs, one of the outfielders who could end up back in the minors if Jones makes the team, went 3-for-5 with three RBI for the Rangers. Boggs' RBI double in the eighth scored Jones to snap a 4-all tie before John Whittleman's two-run homer.
Because the "B" game stats don't count, Jones is still hitting only .222 (4-for-18) with four singles and no RBI in spring training. He batted in every inning of the "B" game and played the entire afternoon game in center field, where he was a 10-time Gold Glove winner for Atlanta from 1998-07.
"He looked better up there today, period. In the 'B' game and the 'A' game," manager Ron Washington said. "His timing was good, he swung the bat better. I think it can do a lot for him. That's what we're trying to do, is build his confidence. It was nice to see him have a good day."
Left-hander Heath Phillips, a non-roster invitee and long shot to make the Kansas City rotation, started and pitched three shutout innings with one strikeout and a walk. He had allowed two runs in two relief innings before Friday.
"He pitched very well. At times, he commanded three pitches. He's not trying to overthrow," manager Trey Hillman said. "Early in camp, I think he was trying to do a little bit too much. I'm looking forward to seeing more of him."
Jones was released in January by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who owed him a $15 million salary this year from the $36.2 million, two-year deal he signed before last season, when he was plagued by injuries and hit .158 with three homers.
With an already-crowded outfield anchored by All-Star center fielder Josh Hamilton, Jones has had to wait for his opportunities to play this spring. Hamilton was one of several Texas regulars who got a day off, so Jones got to play a full game after the extended morning workout.
"Whatever it takes to get some swings in," Jones said. "I think it boosts my confidence up. A lot of stuff was just mentally, trying to get bad habits out of you."
Jones singled to left-center after Justin Smoak's leadoff walk in the ninth. But Ron Mahay struck out two and left the bases loaded.
Omar Vizquel, an 11-time Gold Glove winner whose 2,654 games at shortstop are a major league record, started at second base. He is a non-roster invitee in Rangers camp, who want him to be a utility infielder and mentor to 20-year-old rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Vizquel cleanly handled two grounders, going to his left in the first and then twisting and turning to throw the ball to Andrus covering second for a forceout. He had a more routine play in the fifth.
"The location is still kind of weird to me," Vizquel said. "I've been taking a lot of ground balls at second. I know I can do it at short, so I've just got to get used to the angles and all that."
Mitch Maier was 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Royals. He had an RBI double in the three-run eighth off Neftali Feliz, the hard-throwing 20-year-old whose bases-loaded walk tied the game 7-all.
Notes
Royals RHP Joel Peralta struck out all three batters he faced after taking over in the eighth. ... Kansas City reassigned catchers Cody Clark and Jeff Howell and OF Joseph Duarte, all non-roster players, to its minor league camp.
