Luiz Mendoza, Royals Blank White Sox; Chris Carter Socks a Pair for Houston

Players of the Day for Sunday, March 17, 2013

Grapefruit League

Carter: 2 HR, 5 RBI

Chris Carter has been working his way through the minors to the major leagues since 2006, and finally appears ready to make the roster of a parent team.

After playing 83 games with Oakland last season, posting a .239 average with 16 homers and 39 RBI, Carter may end up the starting first baseman for Houston, which acquired his rights during the off-season.

In Sunday's 11-2 mashing of Toronto, Carter showed off some of his impressive power, belting a pair of two-run homers, scoring three times while getting five RBI in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Carter will have to work on compacting his big swing, as he's already struck out 14 times in 42 at-bats this Spring, but he's socked four homers and has 11 RBI for a team that is in desperate need of a run-producer.

Cactus League

Luis Mendoza

Kansas City continued its assault on the Cactus League, winning for the 17th time against just four losses as they pounded out 18 hits in a 10-0 blanking of the Chicago White Sox.

While the KC regulars were batting balls around Arizona's Surprise Stadium, Luis Mendoza and four relievers were limiting the Chicagoans to five hits and no runs.

Mendoza, who started 30 games last season for the Royals and finished with a respectable 8-10 mark, worked five full innings against the Sox, giving up four hits and a walk, while punching out four on strikes. He's 2-0 for the Royals with an 0.82 ERA in two exhibition starts this Spring.

Thw win gave the Royals a 2 1/2 game lead over Seattle.