He struck out one and walked two while throwing 66 of 98 pitches for strikes in 5 2-3 innings. Rougned Odor homered twice, and A.J. Griffin pitched into the sixth inning in Texas’ victory over Kansas City.
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NOTES: Texas LHP Dario Alvarez, who was acquired as part of a trade with Atlanta on Wednesday, reported to the Rangers on Thursday and was active for the game. He received a no-decision against the Royals on Sunday, when he allowed one run and four hits in five frames, and is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in three career starts against Kansas City.
“Probably the best he’s used the up-to-down game”, manager Jeff Banister said. That 443-foot drive into the second deck in right field came a night after Odor’s 465-footer that is the longest in his career.
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. Texas increased its lead to four games in the American League West, the largest it’s been since July 19. “And that thought went away quick, the very next pitch”. “He got out on a couple of pitches but less than a handful. It was a guy I’d never seen before”, Moreland said.
Kansas City has lost seven of its last eight games and 32 of 51 overall since the start of June.
“You think you know what he’s got, ” said Eric Hosmer, who went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. Veteran RHP Kyle Lohse, who allowed 13 runs in 9 1-3 innings while losing both of his Texas starts, declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Round Rock and became a free agent. Tolleson started the season as the closer but has a 7.68 ERA in 37 outings…. Perez leads the majors with 28 grounded into double plays. After Kendrys Morales opened the frame with a leadoff walk and pinch runner Jarrod Dyson stole second, Dyson got three consecutive groundouts as the Rangers posted just their fourth win by a starter in the past 25 games.
Kennedy scattered six hits while striking out six. He scored two batters later on a single by Bobby Wilson that tied the game at 1-all…. Moreland has recorded five homers among his last nine hits and 16 on the season – seven shy of his career best registered on two occasions.
The ball landed in fair territory, and was initially ruled foul before Rangers manager Jeff Banister questioned the call and umpires changed it after conferring about the non-reviewable play.
Seven-time All-Star infielder Michael Young was inducted into the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony. Hochevar is scheduled to fly back to Kansas City on Saturday and get a second opinion from another specialist, Dr. Robert Thompson, in St. Louis on Monday. He spent the first half of the month on the disabled list with a forearm strain.3.
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“I feel pretty good at the plate right now”, Odor said. Gee is from Cleburne, Texas, about 45 miles from Rangers Ballpark. Harrell was 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in five starts for the Braves, including six scoreless innings in a win Tuesday at Minnesota.
