The Topeka Capital-Journal has the latest news on Kansas City Royals fans wanting to get a head start on planning for next year. With so much young talent on the roster, Spring Training should feature a load of future talent, so fans with free time can get an early look at future stars up close and personal like Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas along with current prospects like Wil Myers and Jeff Montgomery.

“The Kansas City Royals announced their 2012 spring training schedule Wednesday, with the club’s 10th season in the Cactus League beginning with a game against the Texas Rangers on March 4 in Surprise, Ariz. The 31-game schedule will conclude April 4 before the Royals open the season April 6 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Angel Stadium.”

Also for those wanting to get a jump on the regular season, the 2012 schedule has already been announced and you can check that out here.

“I don’t get either one very often,” Kotchman said.

Kotchman drove the first pitch from Blake Wood (5-1) over the center field fence. He also knocked in the other Tampa Bay run with a run-scoring single that tied it in the seventh.

“How about Casey?” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “Those balls were properly struck. Kotch has been hitting like that all year. It’s fun to watch.”

Kotchman, who has seven multihit outings over his last 10 games, is hitting .341 this season. The greeting he received from the welcoming committee at the plate was a blur.

“Just kind of numb,” he said.

It was Kotchman’s first walk-off hit since he had an RBI single in the Los Angeles Angels’ 2-1 victory over Texas on July 13, 2007. The first baseman has three homers over the last six games after going deep just four times in 93 games to start the season.

Rays closer Kyle Farnsworth (4-1) pitched a perfect ninth to earn the win.

Luke Hochevar allowed one run and five hits over seven innings for the Royals. The right-hander, who had won his previous three starts, had seven strikeouts and two walks.

Rays rookie Jeremy Hellickson, 3-0 in four starts during July, gave up one run and six hits in 7 1-3 innings. He struck out seven and walked three.

“It was a great game,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. “There was outstanding pitching from both starters.”

Tampa Bay tied it at 1 in the seventh when Ben Zobrist drew a one-out walk, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Kotchman’s single.

“Just happy to get the ‘W,’” Kotchman said.

Eric Hosmer put the Royals ahead 1-0 on a first-inning RBI single. Alex Gordon, who had been hitless in his first 37 at-bats at Tropicana Field, hit a leadoff double and later scored on Hosmer’s opposite-field hit to left.

Kansas City had a runner in scoring position in four of the first six innings, but went 2 for 10 in those situations. The Royals also failed to take advantage after getting two on with one out during the eighth.

Tampa Bay had two on and one out in the second, but failed to score when Matt Joyce and Robinson Chirinos both struck out.

Hochevar induced double-play grounders in both the fourth and fifth innings.

Kansas City center fielder Melky Cabrera was in the lineup after not starting Sunday’s game because of a sprained left ankle. He went 2 for 4, including a double, and has 47 multihit games this year.

Notes: Tampa Bay RHP James Shields (10-9), Tuesday’s scheduled starter, has seven complete games in 23 starts this season. “That was one of my main goals this year, throw some complete games,” Shields said. “They’re all in the first half so far, so I’m hoping to get a couple more in the second half.” … Kansas City LHP Jeff Francis (4-11) will be making his first career appearance at Tropicana Field in his start Tuesday. … Tampa Bay C John Jaso (right oblique strain) is starting a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham. … Royals manager Ned Yost said C Matt Treanor (concussion) is making progress, but will likely be out at least a few more days.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read More: Joakim Soria (P – KAN), Aaron Crow (P – KAN), Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels

After Monday’s extra inning victory over Toronto, Royals manager Ned Yost announced that Joakim Soria was back as Royals closer. In three games since being demoted from the closers role, Soria has pitched five innings of scoreless relief. He still has only struck out one batter in those three games, but he also has not walked anyone, nor has he allowed a hit.

Of the 17 batters faced since his demotion, Soria has gotten nine outs via ground balls, and has lowered his ERA from 6.55 to 5.33, while also picking up the victory against the Blue Jays to move to 4-3 on the season.

Aaron Crow moves back to the set up role in the bullpen, after not having a save opportunity since taking over the closers role on May 30th, after Soria imploded in a 10-8 loss against the Angels.

While this is very interesting that Soria had to do so little to get put back into the closers role, he certainly has looked optimistic over the past week and back to his old form. It will be interesting to see what happens when Soria is back on the mound in a save role.

Joel Pineiro’s worst throw of the night was not to the plate, but to second base.

Pineiro’s errant throw on Alcides Escobar’s comebacker in the third opened the door for a five-run inning as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 Tuesday.

After Chris Getz’s bunt single with one out, Pineiro fielded Escobar’s grounder, but his throw to second to start a probable double play wound up in center field and Getz wound up on third.

After Pineiro’s error, Alex Gordon and Melky Cabrera contributed RBI singles, while Eric Hosmer’s double to left scored both. Billy Butler’s two-out single scored Hosmer.

“That was the big difference in the game,” Pineiro said of his error. “The ball just stuck to my hand and I threw a sinker. I was too quick. I rushed it and my arm came over and I threw it away. It would have ended the inning. I’ve been around long enough to make sure of one out.”

Pineiro’s error could have affected the way he pitched the remainder of the inning.

“You think about it,” he said. “But I was dedicated to every pitch I threw. It was in my head for a second. It would have ended the inning right there.”

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said “we shot ourselves in the foot on defense.”

“That (throwing error) influenced the game as much as anything,” Scioscia said. “That inning totally changes without the error. He’s a good fielder and he’s really good on that throw. He just misfired. It’s a 1-6-3 double play and we’re out of the inning.”

Royals left-hander Jeff Francis survived a shaky first to pick up the victory. Alex Gordon and Getz both had three hits for the Royals, who won for only the fourth time in 17 games. Jeff Francoeur drove in two runs and leads the Royals with 32 RBIs.

Francis (2-5) threw 35 pitches in the first inning and allowed two runs and four hits before settling down and making it through seven innings, while throwing a season-high 114 pitches.

The Angels took a 2-0 lead with Erick Aybar opening the game with a double to right that Francoeur could not find in the sun. Aybar stopped at third on Maicer Izturis’ single. After one out, Alberto Callaspo and Mark Trumbo had run-producing singles.

The Royals added runs in the fifth and seventh innings with Francoeur driving in both. Francoeur’s two-out single in the fifth scored Hosmer, who had singled and stole second. In the seventh, Francoeur’s sacrifice fly scored Gordon.

Jeff Mathis’ double in the sixth scored Peter Bourjos, who had a bunt single and stole second, for the other Angels run.

Francis, who is 2-0 in his past three starts after going winless in his first eight, allowed three runs, eight hits and two walks.

Piniero allowed six runs, four earned, and nine hits, striking out one and walking none.

Blake Wood followed Francis with two scoreless innings, striking out three.

Notes: Angels OF Vernon Wells, who went on the DL May 10 with a strained right groin, could be close to going on a minor league rehab assignment. “His workout today was exceptional,” Scioscia said. “He’s running at 100 percent. It was a beautiful thing to see.” … RHP Felipe Paulino, who was acquired last week from Colorado, will make his first start for the Royals on Wednesday. He will become the eighth starter used by the Royals this season. … C Bobby Wilson was the Angels DH for the first time this season.

Royals beat Angels 7-3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Jeff Francis pitched seven strong innings and rookie Eric Hosmer drove in two runs in a five-run third as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 on Tuesday night.

Alex Gordon and Chris Getz both had three hits for the Royals, who won for only the fourth time in 17 games. Jeff Francoeur drove in two runs and leads the Royals with 32 RBIs.

Francis (2-5) threw 35 pitches in the first inning and allowed two runs and four hits before settling down and making it through seven innings, while throwing a season-high 114 pitches.

Getz’s bunt single with one out ignited the Royals’ third inning. Joel Pineiro (2-2) could have gotten out of the inning without a run, but his throwing error to second base on Alcides Escobar’s comebacker allowed Getz to move to third.

Gordon and Melky Cabrera contributed RBI singles, while Hosmer’s double to left scored both. Billy Butler’s two-out single scored Hosmer.

The Angels took a 2-0 lead with Erick Aybar opening the game with a double to right that Francoeur could not find in the sun. Aybar stopped at third on Maicer Izturis’ single. After one out, Alberto Callaspo and Mark Trumbo had run-producing singles.

The Royals added runs in the fifth and seventh innings with Francoeur driving in both. Francoeur’s two-out single in the fifth scored Hosmer, who had singled and stole second. In the seventh, Francoeur’s sacrifice fly scored Gordon.

Jeff Mathis’ double in the sixth scored Peter Bourjos(notes), who had a bunt single and stole second, for the other Angels run.

Francis, who is 2-0 in his past three starts after going winless in his first eight, allowed three runs, eight hits and two walks.

Piniero allowed six runs, four earned, and nine hits, striking out one and walking none.

Blake Wood followed Francis with two scoreless innings, striking out three.

Notes: Angels OF Vernon Wells, who went on the DL May 10 with a strained right groin, could be close to going on a minor league rehab assignment. “His workout today was exceptional,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s running at 100 percent. It was a beautiful thing to see.” RHP Felipe Paulino, who was acquired last week from Colorado, will make his first start for the Royals on Wednesday. He will become the eighth starter used by the Royals this season. C Bobby Wilson was the Angels DH for the first time this

Read More: Joakim Soria (P – KAN), Torii Hunter (RF – ANA), Mark Trumbo (1B – ANA), Peter Bourjos (CF – ANA), Everett Teaford (P – KAN), Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels

Torii Hunter’s second home run of the game, a two-run shot in the ninth inning off closer Joakim Soria, helped the Los Angeles Angels to a 10-8 comeback victory over the Kansas City Royals in the first game of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. The Angels scored one run in the seventh inning, two runs in the eighth, then three in the ninth to win their second straight contest. The Angels turned on the power for this win.

Hunter also homered in the seventh inning off Everett Teaford to cut the Royals’ lead to 6-5, but Kansas City scored two in the bottom of the inning to widen their lead to 8-5. Mark Trumbo and Peter Bourjos hit solo home runs in the eighth to cut the deficit to 8-7, which led to Hunter’s heroics in the ninth inning.

Keven Jepsen got the final out of the seventh inning and pitched a scoreless eighth to pick up his first win of the year. Fernando Rodney retired the Royals in order in the ninth, with two strikeouts, to notch his third save of the season. Bobby Abreu had four hits for the Angels, including two doubles. It was the first time the Angels have scored double-digit runs since May 5, when they beat the Red Sox 11-0 at Fenway Park.

For more news and information about the Angels, or on today’s game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Halos Heaven.