KC Royals Outlast Texas Rangers 7-6 in Ten Innings

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It may not have been pretty in any facet, but the KC Royals managed to outlast the Texas Rangers and take a 7-6 victory in extra innings.

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On paper, it seemed as though the scheduled matchup of Nick Martinez and Edinson Volquez would be a pitchers duel. Both pitchers had been their team’s best starters heading into the season, making a high scoring affair seem unlikely. Well, that thought was debunked almost immediately, as Shin-Soo Choo belted Volquez’ second pitch of the night to right for a home run, giving the Rangers an early lead.

Eric Hosmer answered right back in the top of the second, hitting a solo shot of his own to tie the game. The Rangers struck back in the bottom of the third, as Delino Deshields (the younger) walked, stole second, and after a groundout, scored on Prince Fielder‘s base hit. Deshields and Fielder paired up on the Rangers next run, as Deshields once again walked to lead off the inning and stole second. After a one out single put runners on the corners, Fielder hit a sacrifice fly to plate Deshields for a 3-1 Rangers lead.

The KC Royals came right back in top of the sixth. Lorenzo Cain led off the inning with a double to left, and scored on Hosmer’s base hit to left. Kendrys Morales followed with a double of his own, plating Hosmer to tie the game. After a fly out and an error, Morales scored on Omar Infante‘s sacrifice fly, giving the Royals a 4-3 lead.

Once again, that lead did not hold up as the Rangers continued to fight back. Volquez came out to start the sixth, and was relieved after giving up a double to Kyle Blanks. After a one out single put runners at the corners, Blanks scored on Robinson Chirinos‘ sacrifice fly to knot the game at four.

From that point, the Royals and the Rangers traded runs. Mike Moustakas homered to give Kansas City a short lived lead in the seventh, only to see the Rangers tie the game once again on Blanks RBI single. In the top of the ninth, the Royals put runners on the corners with one out, plating the go ahead run on a groundout to second. With Greg Holland entering the game, the win seemed well in hand.

However, Holland has his second consecutive shaky outing. Choo singled, and was lifted for a pinch runner. After Holland got two quick outs, Adrian Beltre singled to tie the game before Holland picked him off of first to end the inning.

Alex Gordon took care of the magic in the top of the tenth. Stolmy Pimentel entered, and was promptly greeted by Gordon’s fourth home run of the season to give the Royals the lead. This time, they would not relinquish the advantage, as Holland pitched a perfect bottom of the tenth to give the Royals the 7-6 victory.

Gordon had quite the night, going 3-5 with a home run and two doubles. He even added in the rare outfield assist, as Choo actually dared to test his arm.

Next: Jason Frasor Getting By on Smoke and Mirrors

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