WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) _ Cleveland manager Charlie Manuel returned to the dugout as the Indians lost 12-1 Wednesday to the Kansas City Royals, who got three RBIs from Joe Randa.

The 56-year-old Manuel had been hospitalized following emergency colon surgery Feb. 28. He was released Sunday from Winter Haven Hospital.

``It felt good to be back in the dugout, but when I saw 20 hits and all those runs ... I think they were testing me to see how strong I was,'' Manuel said. ``It seemed like a long game.''

Team doctors said Manuel, who got to the field in a golf cart but walked to the dugout from the clubhouse, is allowed as much physical activity as he feels comfortable with. He will be required to undergo a follow-up surgical procedure sometime this summer.

``He saw something in my first at-bat,'' first baseman Jim Thome said. ``He told me to slow down and get my timing. It was fun to have him back talking baseball.''

Randa had a home run and an RBI single as Kansas City got 20 hits against six pitchers.

Chuck Finley, the loser, was tagged for three runs and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings, and Jim Brower gave up six runs _ five earned _ and six hits in two innings.

Mike Sweeney and Rey Sanchez also had three hits each for the Royals. Randa and Carlos Beltran scored three runs apiece.

Winner Chad Durbin struck out four in three innings, allowing Cleveland's only run.