SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Mike Jacobs has made quite the impression in his first spring training with the Kansas City Royals.
Jacobs hit his fourth home run of the spring, Mark Teahen went deep twice and Kansas City beat Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants 11-3 on Sunday.
Jacobs, acquired in an offseason trade with Florida, went 2-for-3 and scored two runs. He homered on an 0-2 pitch with two outs and a runner on to cap a three-run first inning off Zito.
"I've always said I didn't feel I had too much trouble against left-handers," said Jacobs, a left-handed hitter. "When you don't get a chance to play against left-handers, that's when it's harder."
Zito had another rough outing, yielding six runs and 10 hits in five innings. The left-hander gave up hits to six of the 14 left-handed hitters he faced after holding lefties to .213 batting average with one homer in 2008.
"Finding a rhythm was tough," said Zito, who has given up 11 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings over four spring starts. "I was a little too fast on my delivery. That led to location issues.
"(Rhythm) is not automatically there right now. You have to practice it and get that feel for it again. You want to produce. You want to go out and make a statement. That's something that didn't go on today."
Luke Hochevar, a candidate for the No. 5 spot in Kansas City's rotation, allowed one run and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out two and walked one.
"That's been my goal, throwing quality strikes, getting ahead and staying ahead," said Hochevar, in a competition with Brian Bannister. Both have minor league options.
"All my focus is getting ahead and pounding the strike zone and attacking hitters. This outing, my breaking stuff was a lot sharper than it has been."
San Francisco closer Brian Wilson, appearing in back-to-back games for the first time this spring, pitched a scoreless eighth inning. He has not been scored on in six appearances, giving up two hits with five strikeouts in six innings.
Giants outfielder Randy Winn had a single and a double in his two at-bats, almost equaling his hit total for the spring in three innings. Winn was 3-for-31, all singles, in his first 11 games.
Notes
San Francisco OF Nate Schierholtz was in the lineup for a second straight game, this time as a designated hitter. Schierholtz was 0-for-1 with a walk against the Royals after going 1-for-2 with a single on Saturday. He had not played since Feb. 28 because of hamstring and back issues. ... San Francisco OF Fred Lewis played in his third consecutive game, a spring first, and tripled in three at-bats. The Giants have taken it slowly with Lewis after September bunion surgery. "He was a little behind on conditioning, but he's catching up," manager Bruce Bochy said. ... RHP Tim Lincecum is suffering from the flu, and the Giants are uncertain if he can make his scheduled start Monday. ... Royals manager Trey Hillman said the team will seek a second opinion on RHP Julio Pimental, whose MRI on Friday showed elbow ligament damage and a possible need for surgery. ... Royals OF Jose Guillen is expected back in camp Monday after his wife gave birth to a son in Miami. Guillen also played for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic and has not been with the Royals for two weeks.
