Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Texas left the Royals at 0-5-1 in their last six series and 48-49 overall. They’re also 1-10 in their last 11 games after scoring five runs or more in their previous game and 3-10 in their last 13 games versus a right-handed starter.
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For Kansas City, it might already be too late to find another gear for a postseason push.
“The first three innings were dynamite”, Royals manager Ned Yost said of Ventura. “When I heard the news about my buddy, I just want his family to know we’re still thinking about him”. That doesn’t help you. “We got to do something not a lot of people get to do”.
Cruz hit his ninth career grand slam against R.A. Dickey in the third and added a three-run shot against Drew Storen in the eighth. Picking up a win in his only decision in the Royals’ 6-3 win over Toronto in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series.
But he almost matched Duffy (6-1), allowing single runs in each of the first three innings. It was Volquez’s fifth straight start pitching at least six innings and he has a 2.87 ERA in that span.
“To make sure we tried to lock down some of those W”s knowing tough times were ahead, yes,” Banister said. We were looking for a little momentum to play well to go home [with].
Volquez is eligible for free agency after this season and could be traded at the deadline.
First things first, bunts are stupid and bad and the Rangers sacrificed a bunch today and ended up with two runs despite out-hitting the Kansas City Royals 11-5.
Williamson broke a deadlock he created with a home run in the fifth by hitting a 1-0 pitch from Anthony Swarzak up the middle past the diving attempt of shortstop Didi Gregorius. “I just feel like simplifying everything has been crucial for me”, Duffy said. He was one of four Texas relievers that combined to throw four scoreless innings, including Sam Dyson’s 20th save of the season.
In Boston, Kyle Gibson put an end to the Red Sox’s two-game hitting outburst, allowing just a pair of hits in the first inning.
“The team flight home, which included most of the club”s top executives, likely carried a sense of relief after the Rangers salvaged a rough, nine-game road trip with consecutive wins against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Mazara homered in the fourth with Jurickson Profar, who had walked, aboard, which was the first hit off Royals starter Yordano Ventura.
The Rangers won back-to-back games for the first time since June 27-28. Perez was in a 2-for-23 skid with eight strikeouts and no walks over six games before delivering a pinch single in the ninth.
Cheslor Cuthbert doubled with one out in the first, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games and took third on Mazara’s fielding error.
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland, who is on the 60-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation, threw his first bullpen session, 25 pitches, since going on the DL.
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Royals: CF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) hoped to begin a rehab assignment his weekend, but it has been pushed back to early next week.
