SURPRISE, Ariz. — San Francisco veteran right-hander Jake Peavy pitched much better in his second start, but the Texas Rangers rallied for a 6-5 victory Monday.

Peavy, who surrendered six runs on nine hits in 1 2-3 innings Thursday against Milwaukee, yielded two runs on five hits over three innings against the Rangers.

“I know the other day was tough results wise,” Peavy said. “Today I faced a better lineup in worse conditions. If you would have seen my ‘pen session before that last one, you would have went, ‘He’s ready.’ Then I went out there and didn’t execute a stinking pitch in a couple of innings.”

He said he threw mostly fastballs against the Brewers but broke out other pitches against the Rangers.

“Today I didn’t throw many heaters,” Peavy said. “It was good fastball command at times; there was a good slider at times, a good changeup at times. I didn’t use them all the first time out.”

Peavy said he valued Buster Posey making the hour-plus trip from Scottsdale to catch him.

“It’s nice to have somebody care that much for a spring training game,” Peavy said. “To come all the way out there, just to care to make you better. This guy makes us all better. It’s appreciated a lot.”

Kyle Blanks homered off Colby Lewis in the Giants’ first.

Peavy was limited to 110 2-3 innings last year because of hip and lower-back issues. “I just threw three innings and did not have to have an (hip) adjustment,” Peavy said. “It checked out perfect. That’s an encouraging sign for me moving forward.”

Up next: Madison Bumgarner will make his second start, both against the Reds.

Buster Poseycolby lewisJake PeavyKyle BlanksMadison BumgarnerMLBSan Francisco Giants