Kansas City Royals

“This was the last place my grandmother saw me pitch before she died a few years ago. Tonight, I wrote ‘Granny’ on the back of the mound. This game meant a lot to me.” White Sox left-hander Derek Holland, a native of Newark, Ohio, after pitching six scoreless innings April 12 to beat the Indians in Cleveland

The three Royals who played for the World Series-winning Chicago Cubs last season received their championship rings Monday.

Because the Royals had an off day, right-hander Jason Hammel, left-handed reliever Travis

Wood and outfielder Jorge Soler were able to go to Wrigley Field.

Hammel and Wood signed with the Royals as free agents in the offseason. Soler was acquired in a trade for closer Wade Davis at the winter meetings in December.

Both pitchers were off to rough starts. Hammel was 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA through two starts, and Wood had a 20.25 ERA after five relief appearances.

Soler has been on the disabled list since the start of the season because of a strained muscle in his left side. Reliever Jake Junis pitched a scoreless inning in his major league debut April 12 against the Oakland Athletics despite giving up a hit and two walks. Rookie left-handed reliever

Matt Strahm was optioned to Omaha after allowing seven runs in 11⁄3 innings in three games to begin the season. He had a 1.23 ERA in 21 games last year.