Garza struggles; Byrd stays red-hot

MESA, Ariz. — Bruce Chen is happy Melky Cabrera is getting big hits for his team these days instead of against him.

Cabrera had a bases-loaded triple in a 5-run first inning to back Chen as the Kansas City Royals coasted to a 13-4 victory over the Cubs on Wednesday.

“He is looking really good,” Chen said of Cabrera. “It was good that we were able to get him.”

Cabrera signed with the Royals as a free agent on Dec. 16 and is hitting .500 (10-for-20) with 6 RBI this spring. He also had a double to lead off the fifth and scored on a double by Alex Gordon, who had 3 hits.

Chen recalled the day a few years ago when he was with the Baltimore Orioles and faced Cabrera, then with the New York Yankees.

“I threw a 0-2 curveball and he hit it for a single,” Chen said. “I said, ‘From now on, no more 0-2 curveballs.”’

A valuable lesson opposing pitchers will have to learn when facing Cabrera and the Royals, who jumped on Matt Garza, making his second start and third spring appearance after being acquired from Tampa Bay on Jan. 8.

Garza gave up 6 runs and 4 hits, walked four and struck out four in 2 innings.

“He didn’t have his command early, but what I saw of him, the last 10 hitters (after Cabrera’s triple), that’s what I expect of him when we open the season,” Cubs manager Mike Quade said. “I thought he threw extremely well after that.”

Two of the hits off Chen were by Marlon Byrd, including a solo home run in the third inning. Byrd continued his solid spring with his sixth multihit effort in eight games. He is now 13-for-20.

“I was able to throw all of my pitches and tried to work out of some jams,” Chen said. “I came out of the (pregame) bullpen and I felt weird. I was flying open. I tried to make some adjustments and by the third inning, I felt I was throwing better.”

Quade is pleased with the way Byrd is hitting.

“He’s having a good spring. He’s setting himself up to go right into the season,” said Quade, who added that Byrd likely will remain in the No. 3 spot in the lineup for now.

Blake DeWitt and Jeff Baker continue to battle for the starting job at 2B for the Cubs. DeWitt might have an edge, but Baker would still see a lot of time as a utilityman.

Darwin Barney is the likely backup at SS behind Starlin Castro.

Chen gave up 2 runs and 3 hits, walked three and struck out four in four innings for Kansas City. Chen thought he was going to pitch only 3 innings, but was given an extra inning by manager Ned Yost because of a low pitch count.

After missing the entire 2008 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Chen split time between Triple-A Omaha and Kansas City in 2009 and began last season in Omaha. He joined the Royals’ rotation on May 30 and went on to lead the team in victories, going 12-7 in 23 starts.

He was re-signed as a major-league free agent on Jan. 19 and came into camp raring to go. The 33-year-old left-hander made his second start of the spring and third appearance overall.

“I’m happy the way things are going for me this spring,” Chen said. “I’m competitive, and I know that nothing will be given to me.”