GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -- Terry Francona named his opening-day starter and then watched the Kansas City Royals thump a couple of Cleveland's relievers.
Billy Butler homered and drove in three runs Tuesday for the unbeaten Royals in a 4-1 win, handing Cleveland its first loss in six spring games.
Before the game, Francona told Justin Masterson in the dugout that he would be the Indians' starting pitcher in Toronto on April 2.
Francona didn't think it was an odd venue to make such an announcement.
"I was excited to tell him and didn't feel like holding it in," he said. "I just wanted to let Masty get his legs under him. He's the leader of our staff. We want him to be the leader. I think it's an honor."
So does Masterson.
"I'm happy," he said. "I was hoping for it."
It will be Masterson's second season-opening start. A year ago, the 28-year-old struck out 10 over eight innings against the Blue Jays in Cleveland, allowing two hits and one run in a game that the Indians went on to lose in 16 innings, 7-4.
"This year it is going to be in a different country," Masterson joked. "It was a pretty cool experience. I just hope this time to get a victory."
Royals manager Ned Yost has yet to reveal rotation plans. In fact, Wade Davis became the first rotation pitcher used this spring by Kansas City. Acquired with fellow right-hander James Shields from Tampa Bay this winter, Davis started and gave up one single over two innings.
"He was real solid, kept the ball down and changed speeds well," Yost said.
Butler singled in a first-inning run off loser Matt Albers and a two-run homer off Giovanni Soto in the fifth.
"Billy just hits, no matter what time of year," Yost said. "Another great day for him."
Eric Hosmer had an RBI triple in the Royals' third off Bryan Shaw and Matt Carson hit his second home run for Cleveland, in the eighth off Brian Sanches.
Padres 7, Reds 5
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Yasmani Grandal will miss the first 50 games of the regular season while serving a suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs. San Diego's second-year catcher can still show the Padres what he'll be able to do once he is able to rejoin the team in late May.
Travis Buck, Alexi Amarista and Everth Cabrera also had RBI singles in big inning as San Diego had five consecutive hits, and Kyle Blanks and Chase Headley had sacrifice flies.
Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko continued his torrid start with his third home run in 10 at bats as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning.
Reds center fielder Shin-Soo Choo was 1 for 2 with a RBI in the third inning. Homer Bailey was effective in one inning, one of the few highlights for the Reds. He struck out one, walked one and still needed just 15 pitches to get through the frame.
Astros 9, Tigers 4
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Brett Wallace would be at the top of the list of players most likely to start the season at first base for the Houston Astros.
Wallace started at third base Tuesday in the Astros' 9-4 exhibition victory over the Detroit Tigers, then moved over to first base for three innings after hitting a home run and a couple of singles.
New manager Bo Porter is still deciding who will play where.
"When you look at our roster and the way it's constructed, it gives us good flexibility and good balance when you have a guy who can play first base, third base and can also DH. I like to have that flexibility," Porter said.
The 26-year-old Wallace has played in 232 games for Houston, more than any other player on the in-flux roster. The Astros signed Carlos Pena in December, but the former Gold Glove first baseman is probably going to DH against right-handers in Houston's first American League season.
Wallace knows that if he hits, Porter will find a place for him in the lineup. On Tuesday, he was most pleased with his sixth-inning single off Michael Morrison, which came on a changeup.
"It's a rhythm and timing thing," Wallace said. "We have been in the cage working quite a bit, just trying to get to a point of comfort where I'm . . . down with seeing pitches and recognizing them and putting good swings on them."
Jason Castro also homered for the Astros, who broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning off Duane Below. Robbie Grossman and Trevor Crowe drove in four runs on back-to-back extra base hits in the big inning.
Brayan Pena's two-run homer off winning pitcher John Ely gave the Tigers a brief 3-2 lead in the fourth.
Doug Fister gave up the two-run homer to Castro in his two-inning start for Detroit.
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