SURPRISE—Gil Meche pitched three innings Monday before leaving the Kansas City Royals’ 9-5 victory over the White Sox with a sore right shoulder.Meche allowed three runs and four hits, struck out one and walked one. He threw 31 of his 56 pitches for strikes.Meche was limited to 23 starts and 129 innings because of shoulder and back problems in 2009.Meche was scheduled to throw five innings or about 70-75 pitches with only two more starts left in spring training.Jake Peavy was hit hard during his three innings for the White Sox, yielding seven runs and 10 hits.Bobby Jenks followed Peavy and struck out one in a perfect inning. It was the closer’s first spring game since March 12 because of a calf injury.Jenks missed the final 11 games last year with a sprained right calf, so there was concern when his calf bothered him in early March. Tests were negative on an MRI exam Saturday.Peavy, who gave up a home run to David DeJesus, threw 74 pitches in three innings and another 21 in the bullpen. Because the Royals and White Sox are in the same division and meet 18 times this year, Peavy did not want use his entire repertoire.Billy Butler had two hits for the Royals, raising his average to .361. Wilson Betemit had two hits and two RBIs.Omar Vizquel, Alex Rios and Paul Konerko each had two hits for the White Sox. Josh Kroeger homered in the ninth.

NOTES: The Royals optioned RHP Gaby Hernandez to Triple-A Omaha, leaving 46 players in camp. … OF Rick Ankiel, who has not played since March 11 because of a sore right ankle, could return soon to the Royals lineup as the DH. “I’m hopeful it’s in the next two or three days,” manager Trey Hillman said. … Royals 3B Alex Gordon hit soft toss throws Monday for the first time since breaking his right thumb on March 6. Hillman labeled it “iffy” whether Gordon would be ready for the April 5 opener.