AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KANSAS CITY (3) AT TEXAS (5) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KANSAS CITY 1ST: D DeJesus flied out to center. M Grudzielanek doubled to deep right center. M Teahen grounded out to first, M Grudzielanek to third. B Butler singled to right, M Grudzielanek scored. R Gload grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 4TH: M Young homered to right. M Byrd reached on infield single to second. J Botts walked, M Byrd to second. N Cruz bunt popped out to catcher. G Laird struck out swinging. J Saltalamacchia flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. KANSAS CITY 6TH: D DeJesus lined out to first. M Grudzielanek singled to left. M Teahen flied out to left. B Butler singled to center, M Grudzielanek to second. R Gload safe at first on throwing error by first baseman J Saltalamacchia, M Grudzielanek advanced to third on play, B Butler advanced to second on play, M Grudzielanek and B Butler scored, R Gload to second on throwing error by first baseman J Saltalamacchia. A Gordon struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 6TH: M Byrd doubled to deep left. J Botts singled to right, M Byrd to third. N Cruz singled to right, M Byrd scored, J Botts to second. D Riske relieved K Davies. G Laird homered to left, J Botts and N Cruz scored. J Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. R Vazquez flied out to left. F Catalanotto grounded out to shortstop. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 5.</div>
AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KANSAS CITY (3) AT TEXAS (5) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kansas City Starting Lineups -- D DeJesus CF, M Grudzielanek 2B, M Teahen RF, B Butler DH, R Gload 1B, A Gordon 3B, E Brown LF, J Smith SS, J LaRue C, K Davies RHP. Texas Starting Lineups -- F Catalanotto LF, I Kinsler 2B, M Young SS, M Byrd CF, J Botts DH, N Cruz RF, G Laird C, J Saltalamacchia 1B, R Vazquez 3B, K Millwood RHP. Umpires -- Laz Diaz (HP), Bill Welke (1B), John Hirschbeck (2B), Wally Bell (3B). Gametime Weather: 99 degrees, Clear, wind in from left at 5 mph. KANSAS CITY 1ST: D DeJesus flied out to center. M Grudzielanek doubled to deep right center. M Teahen grounded out to first, M Grudzielanek to third. B Butler singled to right, M Grudzielanek scored. R Gload grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 1ST: F Catalanotto doubled to deep left. I Kinsler flied out to center. M Young struck out swinging. M Byrd grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0. KANSAS CITY 2ND: A Gordon struck out looking. E Brown struck out swinging. J Smith struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 2ND: J Botts struck out swinging. N Cruz flied out to right. G Laird doubled to deep right center. J Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0. KANSAS CITY 3RD: J LaRue flied out to right. D DeJesus flied out to center. M Grudzielanek grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 3RD: R Vazquez struck out looking. F Catalanotto grounded out to second. I Kinsler grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0. KANSAS CITY 4TH: M Teahen struck out looking. B Butler grounded out to shortstop. R Gload grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 4TH: M Young homered to right. M Byrd reached on infield single to second. J Botts walked, M Byrd to second. N Cruz bunt popped out to catcher. G Laird struck out swinging. J Saltalamacchia flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. KANSAS CITY 5TH: A Gordon flied out to left. E Brown struck out swinging. J Smith walked. J LaRue struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 5TH: R Vazquez struck out swinging. F Catalanotto grounded out to first. I Kinsler reached on infield single to shortstop. I Kinsler stole second. I Kinsler to third on wild pitch by K Davies. M Young struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. KANSAS CITY 6TH: D DeJesus lined out to first. M Grudzielanek singled to left. M Teahen flied out to left. B Butler singled to center, M Grudzielanek to second. R Gload safe at first on throwing error by first baseman J Saltalamacchia, M Grudzielanek advanced to third on play, B Butler advanced to second on play, M Grudzielanek and B Butler scored, R Gload to second on throwing error by first baseman J Saltalamacchia. A Gordon struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 6TH: M Byrd doubled to deep left. J Botts singled to right, M Byrd to third. N Cruz singled to right, M Byrd scored, J Botts to second. D Riske relieved K Davies. G Laird homered to left, J Botts and N Cruz scored. J Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. R Vazquez flied out to left. F Catalanotto grounded out to shortstop. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 5. KANSAS CITY 7TH: E Brown flied out to right. J Smith struck out swinging. J LaRue struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 5. TEXAS 7TH: I Kinsler flied out to center. M Young singled to left. M Byrd popped out to second. J Botts walked, M Young to second. N Cruz popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 5. KANSAS CITY 8TH: J Benoit relieved K Millwood. D DeJesus flied out to center. M Grudzielanek walked. M Teahen struck out swinging. B Butler walked, M Grudzielanek to second. T Pena Jr ran for B Butler. C Wilson relieved J Benoit. E German hit for R Gload. E German hit by pitch, M Grudzielanek to third, T Pena Jr to second. A Gordon struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 5. TEXAS 8TH: E German at third base. A Gordon at first base. J Bale relieved D Riske. G Laird bunt grounded out to first. J Saltalamacchia grounded out to pitcher. R Vazquez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 5. KANSAS CITY 9TH: D Murphy in left field. B Wilkerson at first base. E Brown grounded out to pitcher. J Smith walked. J Buck hit for J LaRue. J Buck grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, J Smith out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 5.</div>
Laird's homer powers Rangers past Royals <h3>TEXAS 5, KANSAS CITY 3</h3>By Randy Krone PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Gerald Laird doesn't want hisplaying time reduced. Laird capped a four-run sixth inning with a home run and KevinMillwood pitched seven effective innings to lift the TexasRangers to a 5-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesdayin the opener of a three-game series. Earlier on this current homestand, Laird was told by manager RonWashington that his playing time would be reduced as theRangers take a look at newly-acquired catcher JarrodSaltalamacchia, who came off from the Atlanta Braves in the MarkTeixeira trade. The 27-year-old Laird tried to make Washington question hisdecision in the sixth inning by blasting a three-run shot offRoyals reliever David Riske to give the Royals a 5-3 advantage. Royals starter Kyle Davies (5-9) cruised through the first fiveinnings, allowing just one run and five hits, but failed torecord an out in the sixth. Marlon Byrd led off the inning with a double to left-center andJason Botts followed with a base hit. Nelson Cruz thendelivered a single to right field, which scored Byrd and chasedDavies from the game. Riske entered and failed to get the Royals out of trouble.Laird sent Riske's 1-0 offering over the left field wall for hisseventh home run of the year and first since July 19. After Billy Butler's RBI single in the first inning, Millwood(8-9) retired 14 of the next 15 batters and did not surrenderanother hit until Mark Grudzielanek's single in the sixth. Millwood was able to register his first victory since July 23.The 11-year veteran held the Royals to three runs and four hitswith nine strikeouts and one walk. The nine strikeouts wasMillwood's most since striking out ten against Cincinnati onJune 17. After Joaquin Benoit pitched two-thirds of an inning, C.J.Wilson tossed the final 1 1/3 innings to pick up his fifth saveof the season. Michael Young hit a solo home run to right field to lead off thebottom of the fourth and tie the game at 1-1. It was Young'sthird homer in his last seven games after going homerless in hisprevious 77 games. The Royals offense was the beneficiary of two sixth-inningerrors by Rangers first baseman Saltalamacchia, which broke a1-1 tie. With two out and two on, Ross Gload hit a grounder down theright field line that Saltalamacchia misplayed. As Grudzielanekrounded third, Saltalamacchia's throw home was off-line,sailing past Laird, allowing both Grudzielanek and Butler toscore and give the Royals a 3-1 lead. Davies hurled five-plus innings, yielding four runs and eighthits with seven strikeouts.
Laird's homer powers Rangers past Royals <h3>TEXAS 5, KANSAS CITY 3</h3>By Randy Krone PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) - Gerald Laird doesn't want hisplaying time reduced. Laird capped a four-run sixth inning with a home run and KevinMillwood pitched seven effective innings to lift the TexasRangers to a 5-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesdayin the opener of a three-game series. Earlier on this current homestand, Laird was told by manager RonWashington that his playing time would be reduced as theRangers take a look at newly acquired catcher JarrodSaltalamacchia, who came over from the Atlanta Braves in theMark Teixeira trade. "I didn't do it to try to wake Gerald up," Washington said."I've just got a 22-year-old who's a pretty good catcher that Ineed to take a look at before spring training next year. Geraldis the veteran in this situation and when we've challengedpeople, they've stepped up. And he's stepping up here." The 27-year-old Laird tried to make Washington question hisdecision in the sixth inning by blasting a three-run shot offRoyals reliever David Riske to give the Royals a 5-3 advantage. "I don't know if it's challenging," Laird said. "We've got atalented young guy like Salty coming up and I've got to play mybest at every opportunity." Royals starter Kyle Davies (5-9) cruised through the first fiveinnings, allowing just one run and five hits, but failed torecord an out in the sixth. Marlon Byrd led off the inning with a double to left-center andJason Botts followed with a base hit. Nelson Cruz thendelivered a single to right field, which scored Byrd and chasedDavies from the game. Riske entered and failed to get the Royals out of trouble. Lairdsent Riske's 1-0 offering over the left field wall for hisseventh home run of the year and first since July 19. After Billy Butler's RBI single in the first inning, Millwood(8-9) retired 14 of the next 15 batters and did not surrenderanother hit until Mark Grudzielanek's single in the sixth. "Millwood was very good tonight," Washington said. "He sloweddown his tempo and hit his spots all night." Millwood registered his first victory since July 23. The 11-yearveteran held the Royals to three runs and four hits with ninestrikeouts and one walk. The nine strikeouts were Millwood'smost since he struck out 10 against Cincinnati on June 17. "I made some adjustments before my last start and have beenpitching from the first base side of the rubber," Millwood said."I feel like I'm locating the ball better and it's definitelyhelping my breaking ball. It feels like it's freed my arm upand I was able to keep them off-balance tonight." After Joaquin Benoit pitched two-thirds of an inning, C.J.Wilson tossed the final 1 1/3 innings to pick up his fifth saveof the season. Michael Young hit a solo home run to right field to lead off thebottom of the fourth and tie the game at 1-1. It was Young'sthird homer in his last seven games after going homerless in hisprevious 77 games. "It got us on the board," Young said. "Their starter wasthrowing well so it was nice to get something started and justlet Millwood do the rest." The Royals' offense was the beneficiary of two sixth-inningerrors by Rangers first baseman Saltalamacchia, which broke a1-1 tie. With two out and two on, Ross Gload hit a grounder down theright field line that Saltalamacchia misplayed. As Grudzielanekrounded third, Saltalamacchia's throw home was off-line,sailing past Laird and allowing both Grudzielanek and Butler toscore for a 3-1 lead. Davies hurled five-plus innings, yielding four runs and eighthits with seven strikeouts. "They started sitting on my pitches and were able to hit acouple," Davies said. "It's frustrating, I elevated somepitches but I thought I pitched pretty good until the sixth,then things snowballed."
