Pitcher Benson Makes Final Start of Spring

Kris Benson appears ready to make his long awaited return to the big leagues.
 
Benson made his final exhibition start Saturday and pitched five innings in the Texas Rangers' 5-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
 
Kansas City's Mike Jacobs and John Buck each hit solo homers, and Alberto Callaspo had an RBI triple in the eighth that broke a 4-all tie.
 
Benson, the No. 1 overall pick by Pittsburgh in 1996, hasn't pitched in a regular-season game since 2006 after undergoing surgery for a torn rotator cuff. He made six appearances this spring and is slated to start Friday against Detroit.
 
Benson allowed three runs, one earned, and struck out five in the final exhibition game for both teams.
 
"Everything felt good," Benson said. "Everything is where I need it to be. I want to keep this consistency going through the season."
 
Benson missed the 2007 season and was 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA in 11 starts last year for Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia's Triple-A team, before the Phillies released him Aug. 30. He went 11-12 in 30 starts with the Baltimore Orioles in 2006.
 
Benson signed a minor league deal with the Rangers on Feb. 21 and had a 4.09 ERA in 22 innings this spring.
 
"I'm ready to begin a new chapter in my career," he said. "I couldn't be any more happier about my second chance."
 
Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus dropped a popup with two out in the second inning, misjudging it in the wind. The 20-year-old rookie's error led to two unearned runs.
 
Jacobs connected with two out in the fifth for his seventh homer this spring. Buck went deep in the sixth against Josh Rupe.
 
Marlon Byrd hit a two-run shot off Royals starter Kyle Davies in the second. Davies allowed two runs and four hits in four innings.
 
Doug Waechter allowed two runs and two hits in the sixth but Ron Mahay, Juan Cruz, Kyle Farnsworth and Joakim Soria each pitched a scoreless inning for Kansas City.
 
"It was a good game overall," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "I thought our pitching was very good."