"That little kid at second base - he is after a job, isn't he?" Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.

The 28-year-old Fontenot also walked, scored twice and drove in two runs before 8,987 fans at HoHoKam Park. He is competing for a starting role with Aaron Miles, who played shortstop Monday and finished 1-for-3 with a run, bumping his batting average to .222.

Miles, 32, agreed to a two-year contract with Chicago on New Year's Eve. In addition to playing second base, he is expected to spell incumbent Ryan Theriot at shortstop.

"Fontenot is tearing the ball up right now and he is looking like one of these guys like (Chase) Utley and (Dan) Uggla," Miles said, referring to a pair of NL All-Star second basemen. "He had a great year last year based on the amount of at-bats he had."

Miles isn't conceding anything yet to Fontenot, who is hitting .367 with seven extra-base hits and six RBIs, but is fine with whatever role is ahead of him.

"I am here to contribute on the level I am going to," said Miles, who batted .317 in 134 games for St. Louis last season. "I am versatile in that way and I am happy to be a contributor in any way."

Fontenot, who hit .305 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in his first full season with the Cubs, has been revved up for this opportunity since the day Mark DeRosa was traded to Cleveland.

"You always want to play no matter what, and I am always trying to put together a good at-bat whether or not I am getting a chance to start or not," Fontenot said. "I'm going to go out there and play the way I always do, but it makes it better at the end of the day if you know you have a chance at a starting job."

Piniella was not happy as the Cubs lost eight of nine before Monday's game. But the offense came to life against the Royals, cranking out 12 hits. Alfonso Soriano homered, Derrek Lee had his first extra-base hit, a run-scoring double, and Aramis Ramirez raised his average to .318 with a 1-for-3 performance.

"I was pleased with the hitting," Piniella said. "That's what I have been stressing on a little bit."

Miles said most of the players didn't know about Piniella's pointed comments Sunday regarding the offense, but said they weren't all that necessary because the players were also getting tired of losing.

"That's the way you want your players and the way you want your managers," Miles said. "The minute you accept losing you become a loser. Even though it is spring training, we don't need Lou down our throats to say that. We are looking at each other to get it going."

Soriano hit a two-run shot off struggling Brian Bannister, who allowed four runs, five hits and two walks in three innings. His spring training ERA is 6.75.

"I'm down," Bannister said. "Obviously, I didn't pitch well. I know I'm competing for a job, but I've got to continue to get ready for the season, too. It's that balance of getting ready for the season, but also right away competing."

The Cubs' pitching also was solid as Chad Gaudin and Jeff Samardzija, two fifth-starter contenders, combined to allow one run over five innings.

"I didn't see a lot I liked," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "We were lethargic. Overall it was a tired day."

Gaudin yielded one hit in two innings with a strikeout and Samardzija followed with one earned run in three innings, allowing two hits with two strikeouts.

"I think we are going in the right direction," said Samardzija, who has a 6.75 ERA in eight innings. "I threw a couple of good changeups and a couple really good splitters."

Notes: Cubs RHP Rich Harden is expected to make his Cactus League debut Tuesday in Peoria against Seattle, and because of Wednesday's off day, opening-day candidate Ryan Dempster and fifth-starter candidate Aaron Heilman will also get their outings in. ... Piniella was asked if he would have played in the World Baseball Classic if it was around in his day. "I'm not so sure I would have been good enough," he said. ... Six-year minor league free agent Jason Waddell continues to impress Piniella as a left-handed reliever. "He comes in and throw strikes, and left-handers don't take good swings off of him," Piniella said. Waddell has a 1.50 ERA in six innings with seven strikeouts. ... RHP Juan Cruz is scheduled to make his Royals debut Wednesday against Seattle. ... Utility player Esteban German, who was designated for assignment to make roster space for Cruz, was released Monday after attempts to trade him failed. The Royals owe German $197,000 of his $1.2 million contract in separation pay. German, who hit .245 in 89 games in 2008, becomes a free agent. ... RHP Doug Waechter, who has been set back with a finger blister, threw 15 pitches in batting practice after warming up in the bullpen with no problems. "That was beyond where we thought we would be with it uncovered," Hillman said. "He's healing a little quicker than we anticipated."