Saturday’s 2-1 win over Kansas City thanks to Mitch Moreland walkoff homer in the ninth made it three straight over the defending World Series champions and six of eight overall after a 4-13 start to July.
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Royals starter Ian Kennedy and Rangers starter Martin Perez both gave up one run in seven innings. Texas looks to defeat the visiting Royals for the fourth time in five meetings over the last eight days on Friday in the second contest of a four-game set.Mitch Moreland went deep twice in Thursday’s 3-2 victory over the Royals for his 10th career multi-homer performance as Texas improved to 8-15 on the month.
Paulo Orlando’s second home run of the season, and first since May 17, was pulled well beyond the 14-foot wall in left field and gave Kansas City a 1-0 lead.
Griffin (4-1) had his longest outing in seven starts in just over a month since coming off the disabled list because of right shoulder stiffness. Umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled that the ball was foul but after Rangers manager Jeff Banister argued against the call the umpiring crew consulted and the hit was ruled fair. The lone run he issued in seven innings came in the first and shouldn’t have scored.
Cheslor Cuthbert and Raul Mondesi had two hits each for the Royals.
Follow along on your desktop or mobile device during Saturday’s Royals-Ranger game for live stats and updates from Rustin Dodd, The Star’s Royals beat reporter, and other Star sportswriters and editors. “It was a guy I’d never seen before”, Moreland said.
Ventura (6-9) struck out six and walked just one in a complete-game effort. The Royals scored their lone run in the 1st inning when Alcides Escobar scored on an Eric Hosmer ground out. The five game lead is the largest for Texas since they led by 5 1/2 games at the All-Star break.
“It’s always great when you’re able to go out there, you’re doing well and you’re having non-stressful innings and they’re pretty quick, ” the 32-year-old Hamels said. Losing Hochevar could also push the Royals into sell mode, in which closer Wade Davis would be an attractive target despite his recent struggles.
Rangers: OF Shin-Soo Choo is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday after being out since July 20 with lower back inflammation.
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Royals: Dillon Gee (3-4) has started only once in his career against Texas, going six innings in a win for the New York Mets in 2011. Gee is from Cleburne, Texas, which is about 45 miles from Rangers Ballpark. Texas LHP Lucas Harrell, who was acquired along with Alvarez as part of the trade with the Braves, will report to the Rangers on Friday. The Missouri native will make his sixth start since receiving his promotion from the minors on July 2 and has worked at least six frames in four of his five trips to the mound.
