Billy Butler goes 3 for 3 with go-ahead single in Royals’ 8-4 win over Dodgers

Royals beat Dodgers 8-4

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Billy Butler went 3 for 3, including a go-ahead single in Kansas City’s four-run fifth inning, and the Royals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Friday.

Making his next-to-last spring start, AL Cy Young Award winner Zach Greinke allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out three and walked one while throwing more than 90 pitches for the first time.

The right-hander will make his final start on March 31 against San Diego before opening the season April 5 against Detroit.

Manny Ramirez hit his second homer of the spring for the Dodgers.

Butler had three singles and scored twice before leaving after five innings.

Vicente Padilla, the Dodgers’ opening-day starter, gave up five runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked one.

The Dodgers scored first on Matt Kemp’s two-out single in the third. They extended the lead to 3-1 in the fourth on Ramirez’s homer and A.J. Ellis’ RBI single.

NOTES: Dodgers C Russell Martin, out since March 7 with a groin injury, caught six innings without a problem in a minor league game at Camelback Ranch. He went 2 for 6 with two singles and scored a run. He’s set to take Saturday off. … Albert Callaspo was a late scratch from the Royals’ lineup. The third baseman is batting .458. … The Royals split their two spring games with the Dodgers, losing 6-4 on March 11.