"Another entry Saturday in the Royals' so far/so good checklist: Closer Joakim Soria is throwing free and easy and showing no signs of the shoulder soreness that plagued him on occasion last season.

"I've tried not to badger him," manager Trey Hillman said, "but I've asked him probably three times how his body feels without getting specific about the shoulder. He says he feels very good.

"His command has been very good. His mechanics have been real smooth."

Soria, 25, missed nearly a month last season but still finished with 30 saves in 33 opportunities while compiling a 2.21 ERA in 47 appearances.

He also had five saves of two innings or more; no other reliever in either league had more than two."