They started early with Nomar Mazura’s two-run home run before KC starter Dillon Gee recorded an out, showing Harrell so long as he handles his business, the offense and bullpen – four relievers combined for three flawless innings – can take care of the rest. “I made a couple mistakes that they obviously capitalized on”. “My shoulder’s responding a lot better with each outing”.
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TEXAS: The Rangers are now a ideal 5-0 in their last five games versus American League Central opponents and have taken six of seven versus right-handed starters as well.
Jurickson Profar also went deep for the Rangers, and scored three runs. That came two nights after he homered twice in a 3-2 win in the series opener against the stumbling defending World Series champions. Young played for Texas from 2000-12 and is the franchise leader in games played (1,823), hits (2,230), runs (1,085), doubles (415) and triples (55).
Matt Bush (4-2) pitched two scoreless innings, with one strikeout. It is the first time Kansas City, also the AL champion in 2014, has been 10 games back in the division since a 10 1/2-game deficit on August 31, 2013.
Texas extended their lead in the fourth inning.
Kolten Wong had three hits and drove in two runs and Jeremy Hazelbaker hit a two-run homer for St. Louis. In the series, Moreland hit.615 with four homers.
He was frequently used as the team’s lead-off hitter early in the year, but the Rangers have wisely deployed him from the 5-, 6- and 7-slots over the past couple months, which makes far more sense for a player with Odor’s unusual high-slugging, low-OBP profile.
The right-hander made his major league debut with the Rangers before being traded to Cincinnati after the 2007 season for slugger Josh Hamilton.
“I think this time of year winning baseball games is a premium”, Banister said.
Harrell was the eighth Rangers pitcher to make a start in July.
Cain played for the first time since June 28 after missing 25 games because of a left hamstring strain.
The Royals on Saturday acquired OF Billy Burns from Oakland for OF prospect Brett Eibner, who was sent back to Triple-A Omaha after Lorenzo Cain came off the disabled list Friday. RHP Luke Hochevar (thoracic outlet syndrome) will get a second opinion Monday from another specialist in Kansas City after a Dallas specialist on Friday recommended season-ending surgery.
Rangers: Slugger Prince Fielder’s season-ending surgery Friday to fix a herniated disk in his neck went as expected. He is scheduled to throw live batting practice Tuesday. He had a 6.43 ERA in six previous starts.
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Even though Martinez looked a little better over three starts in June, he still left plenty of work for the bullpen and settled for no-decisions in games the Rangers would eventually lose. The Rangers have scored 13 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in four of their last eight games.
