GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: KANSAS CITY (52-66) at TEXAS (52-66)

AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 8 2
TEXAS 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 x 4 6 2 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - GIL MECHE, JIMMY GOBBLE (7TH), JOEL PERALTA (7TH) AND JOHN
BUCK

TEX - VICENTE PADILLA, MIKE WOOD (6TH), FRANK FRANCISCO
(7TH), JOAQUIN BENOIT (8TH), C.J. WILSON (9TH) AND GERALD
LAIRD

HOME RUNS: KAN - NONE

TEX - IAN KINSLER (15) OFF JOEL PERALTA IN THE 8TH, 0 ON</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 8 2
TEXAS 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 x 4 6 2 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - GIL MECHE, JIMMY GOBBLE (7TH), JOEL PERALTA (7TH) AND JOHN
BUCK

TEX - VICENTE PADILLA, MIKE WOOD (6TH), FRANK FRANCISCO
(7TH), JOAQUIN BENOIT (8TH), C.J. WILSON (9TH) AND GERALD
LAIRD


WP - MIKE WOOD (3-1)
LP - GIL MECHE (7-11)
SAVE - C.J. WILSON (6)

HOME RUNS: KAN - NONE

TEX - IAN KINSLER (15) OFF JOEL PERALTA IN THE 8TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:56 ATT: 24,529

PROBABLES: KAN - LEO NUNEZ (2-0, 1.80)
TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER (1-1, 6.75)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (3) VS TEXAS (4) - FINAL

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 4 1 1 0 0 2 2 .275
M Grudzielanek 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .298
M Teahen rf 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 .286
B Butler dh 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .302
J Smith pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
a-E Brown ph 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .229
R Gload 1b 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .291
b-E German ph 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .284
A Gordon 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 5 .242
J Buck c 3 0 1 1 1 2 2 .229
J Gathright lf 4 0 1 1 0 1 4 .339
T Pena Jr ss 3 0 1 0 1 1 3 .272

Totals 33 3 8 2 3 13 18

a-reached on error for J Smith in the 9th; b-walked for R Gload in the
9th.

BATTING: 2B - A Gordon (25, V Padilla); B Butler (12, M Wood); J Buck (16, C
Wilson). RBI - J Buck (40), J Gathright (13). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - T Pena Jr 1. GIDP - T Pena Jr. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - E Brown (9, 2nd base off C Wilson/G Laird).

FIELDING: E - T Pena Jr (20, throw); J Gobble (1, throw). DP: 2 (G Meche-T
Pena Jr-R Gload, R Gload-T Pena Jr-G Meche).


TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Catalanotto lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .248
a-S Sosa ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243
D Murphy lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .556
I Kinsler 2b 4 2 2 1 0 2 0 .255
M Young ss 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 .306
M Byrd cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .318
J Botts dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .224
N Cruz rf 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 .216
G Laird c 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .234
J Saltalamacchia 1b 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 .163
R Vazquez 3b 2 1 0 0 1 1 3 .236

Totals 28 4 6 3 3 7 10

a-grounded to pitcher for F Catalanotto in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - M Young (32, G Meche). HR - I Kinsler (15, 8th inning off J
Peralta 0 on, 0 Out). S - G Laird. RBI - M Young 2 (66), I Kinsler (42).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Sosa 1. GIDP - R Vazquez, J Botts.
Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - G Laird (9, throw); J Saltalamacchia (4, catch). Outfield
assists - N Cruz (T Pena Jr at Home), M Byrd (J Smith at Home). DP: 2 (M Byrd-G
Laird, R Vazquez-I Kinsler-J Saltalamacchia).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 001 000 002 -- 3
TEXAS - 000 002 11x -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
G Meche (L, 7-11) 6 1/3 5 3 2 3 4 0 3.90
J Gobble 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.05
J Peralta 1 1/3 1 1 1 0 2 1 3.62

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
V Padilla 5 4 1 0 0 8 0 6.30
M Wood (W, 3-1) 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.34
F Francisco (H, 15) 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.69
J Benoit (H, 15) 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 2.67
C Wilson (S, 6) 1 2 2 1 1 0 0 2.29

M Wood pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.

WP - G Meche. Pitches-strikes: G Meche 105-65; J Gobble 4-3; J Peralta 15-11;
V Padilla 80-59; M Wood 14-9; F Francisco 14-9; J Benoit 16-11; C Wilson 22-15.
Ground balls-fly balls: G Meche 8-7; J Gobble 0-0; J Peralta 1-1; V Padilla
5-1; M Wood 0-2; F Francisco 0-1; J Benoit 0-0; C Wilson 2-1. Batters faced: G
Meche 26; J Gobble 1; J Peralta 5; V Padilla 18; M Wood 5; F Francisco 3; J
Benoit 4; C Wilson 6.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke.

T--2:56. Att--24,529.
Weather: 97 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, in from
left.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
KANSAS CITY 3
TEXAS 4 FINAL</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (3) AT TEXAS (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

KANSAS CITY 3RD: J Gathright bunt grounded out to pitcher. T Pena Jr
reached on infield single to third. D DeJesus singled to right, T Pena Jr to
third, T Pena Jr out at home in rundown, D DeJesus to second advancing on play,
D DeJesus scored on throwing error by catcher G Laird. M Grudzielanek grounded
out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 6TH: R Vazquez walked. F Catalanotto popped out to third. I Kinsler
singled to left, R Vazquez to second. M Young doubled to deep center,
R Vazquez and I Kinsler scored. M Byrd safe at first on throwing error by
shortstop T Pena Jr. J Botts grounded into double play, first to shortstop to
pitcher, M Byrd out at second.(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 7TH: N Cruz singled to left. G Laird sacrificed to pitcher, N Cruz
to second. J Saltalamacchia walked. N Cruz to third on wild pitch by G Meche.
J Gobble relieved G Meche. N Cruz scored, J Saltalamacchia safe at second on
throwing error by pitcher J Gobble. R Vazquez struck out looking. S Sosa hit
for F Catalanotto. J Peralta relieved J Gobble. S Sosa grounded out to pitcher.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 8TH: I Kinsler homered to left. M Young lined out to shortstop.
M Byrd struck out swinging. J Botts struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 4.

KANSAS CITY 9TH: C Wilson relieved J Benoit. E Brown hit for J Smith.
E Brown safe at first on error by first baseman J Saltalamacchia. E German hit
for R Gload. E Brown stole second. E German walked. A Gordon flied out to
right. J Buck doubled to center, E Brown scored, E German to third.
J Gathright reached on infield single to shortstop, E German scored, J Buck to
third. T Pena Jr grounded into double play, third to second to first,
J Gathright out at second.(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 4.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (3) AT TEXAS (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kansas City Starting Lineups -- D DeJesus CF, M Grudzielanek 2B, M Teahen RF,
B Butler DH, R Gload 1B, A Gordon 3B, J Buck C, J Gathright LF, T Pena Jr SS,
G Meche 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, V Padilla RHP.

Umpires -- John Hirschbeck (HP), Wally Bell (1B), Laz Diaz (2B), Bill Welke (3B).

Gametime Weather: 97 degrees, Clear, wind in from left at 9 mph.


KANSAS CITY 1ST: D DeJesus struck out looking. M Grudzielanek struck out
looking. M Teahen struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0,
TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 1ST: F Catalanotto popped out to second. I Kinsler struck out
swinging. M Young grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, TEXAS 0.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: B Butler grounded out to second. R Gload singled to
center. A Gordon popped out to second. J Buck struck out looking. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 2ND: M Byrd grounded out to third. J Botts struck out swinging.
N Cruz reached on infield single to third. G Laird flied out to right. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, TEXAS 0.

KANSAS CITY 3RD: J Gathright bunt grounded out to pitcher. T Pena Jr
reached on infield single to third. D DeJesus singled to right, T Pena Jr to
third, T Pena Jr out at home in rundown, D DeJesus to second advancing on play,
D DeJesus scored on throwing error by catcher G Laird. M Grudzielanek grounded
out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 3RD: J Saltalamacchia walked. R Vazquez grounded into double play,
pitcher to shortstop to first, J Saltalamacchia out at second. F Catalanotto
struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0.

KANSAS CITY 4TH: M Teahen grounded out to second. B Butler struck out
looking. R Gload grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 4TH: I Kinsler struck out swinging. M Young lined out to second.
M Byrd reached on infield single to catcher. J Botts grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0.

KANSAS CITY 5TH: A Gordon doubled to left. J Buck struck out swinging.
J Gathright struck out swinging. T Pena Jr struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 5TH: N Cruz flied out to right. G Laird flied out to center.
J Saltalamacchia flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1,
TEXAS 0.

KANSAS CITY 6TH: M Wood relieved V Padilla. D DeJesus flied out to left.
M Grudzielanek flied out to center. M Teahen struck out looking. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0.

TEXAS 6TH: R Vazquez walked. F Catalanotto popped out to third. I Kinsler
singled to left, R Vazquez to second. M Young doubled to deep center,
R Vazquez and I Kinsler scored. M Byrd safe at first on throwing error by
shortstop T Pena Jr. J Botts grounded into double play, first to shortstop to
pitcher, M Byrd out at second.(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 2.

KANSAS CITY 7TH: B Butler doubled to left. R Gload singled to right,
B Butler to third. F Francisco relieved M Wood. A Gordon struck out swinging.
J Buck walked, R Gload to second. J Smith ran for B Butler. J Gathright lined
out to center, J Smith thrown out at home. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 2.

TEXAS 7TH: N Cruz singled to left. G Laird sacrificed to pitcher, N Cruz
to second. J Saltalamacchia walked. N Cruz to third on wild pitch by G Meche.
J Gobble relieved G Meche. N Cruz scored, J Saltalamacchia safe at second on
throwing error by pitcher J Gobble. R Vazquez struck out looking. S Sosa hit
for F Catalanotto. J Peralta relieved J Gobble. S Sosa grounded out to pitcher.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 3.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: D Murphy in left field. J Benoit relieved F Francisco.
T Pena Jr walked. D DeJesus struck out swinging. M Grudzielanek struck out
swinging. M Teahen struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 3.

TEXAS 8TH: I Kinsler homered to left. M Young lined out to shortstop.
M Byrd struck out swinging. J Botts struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 4.

KANSAS CITY 9TH: C Wilson relieved J Benoit. E Brown hit for J Smith.
E Brown safe at first on error by first baseman J Saltalamacchia. E German hit
for R Gload. E Brown stole second. E German walked. A Gordon flied out to
right. J Buck doubled to center, E Brown scored, E German to third.
J Gathright reached on infield single to shortstop, E German scored, J Buck to
third. T Pena Jr grounded into double play, third to second to first,
J Gathright out at second.(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) KANSAS CITY 3, TEXAS 4.</div>

 

Young, Kinsler help Rangers hold off Royals

<h3>TEXAS 4, KANSAS CITY 3</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Michael Young drove in thego-ahead runs, Ian Kinsler homered and the Texas Rangers held onfor a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesdaynight.


With Texas trailing, 1-0, in the sixth inning, Young laced atwo-run double off All-Star Gil Meche (7-11) and an inning laterNelson Cruz came home on reliever Jimmy Gobble's throwing errorat first to extend the lead to 3-1.


In the eighth, Kinsler added some insurance with his career-high15th homer of the season against Kansas City's Joel Peralta fora three-run bulge.


Texas starter Vicente Padilla was stellar in his return from thedisabled list, yielding one run and four hits with aseason-high eight strikeouts in five innings. The righthanderhad not appeared on the hill since June 21 due to right tricepsinflammation.


Padilla began the outing in impressive fashion, striking out thefirst three batters he faced and retiring seven of the firsteight.


Reliever Mike Wood (3-1) pitched a scoreless sixth for the win,Frank Francisco and Joaquin Benoit logged the next two framesbefore Kansas City rallied in the ninth off C.J. Wilson.

John Buck hit an RBI double and Joey Gathright followed with arun-scoring infield single to make it an one-run contest. ButWilson settled down to get Tony Pena Jr. to ground into agame-ending double play for his sixth save in helping theRangers record their third consecutive win.


Meche allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Hefanned four and walked three to remain winless in his last fiveoutings.


Kansas City opened the scoring in the third when Pena took thirdon David DeJesus' single to right before coming around oncatcher Gerald Laird's throwing error.

 

Young, Kinsler help Rangers hold off Royals

<h3>TEXAS 4, KANSAS CITY 3</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Michael Young drove in thego-ahead runs, Ian Kinsler homered and the Texas Rangers held onfor a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesdaynight.


With Texas trailing, 1-0, in the sixth inning, Young laced atwo-run double off All-Star Gil Meche (7-11). One inning laterNelson Cruz came home on reliever Jimmy Gobble's throwing errorat first to extend the lead to 3-1.


"Given the situation, I was just looking for a pitch to drive,"Young said. "It was up and away and I went with it and luckilyI was able to come through."


"It was out over the plate," Meche said. "He's gone that waybefore against me for a home run. I thought that one was gone,too. After five innings, I thought I was in control. Then Igive up the big hit to their best hitter."


In the eighth, Kinsler added some insurance with his career-high15th homer of the season against Kansas City's Joel Peralta fora three-run bulge.


"It was a fastball," Kinsler said. "He started me off with acutter, he threw me a slider, he was down in the count 2-0 andI'm just anticipating a fastball right there and I basically gotone and put a good swing on it."


Texas starter Vicente Padilla was stellar in his return from thedisabled list, yielding one run and four hits with aseason-high eight strikeouts in five innings. The righthanderhad not appeared on the hill since June 21 due to right tricepsinflammation.


"He's a major league pitcher. He had good command and greattempo," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He was pain-freewhen we took him out. He threw some good, hard breaking balls.He threw his fastball in each part of the zone. His tempo wasreal quick."


Padilla began the outing in impressive fashion, striking out thefirst three batters he faced and retiring seven of the firsteight.


"Right out of the chute, he was hitting his spots, he felt likehe was in control," Texas catcher Gerald Laird said. "He threwthe ball really well. It was fun to be back there. The mainthing was his location. He was hitting his spots with velocityand putting guys away when he needed to."


Reliever Mike Wood (3-1) pitched a scoreless sixth for the winand Frank Francisco and Joaquin Benoit logged the next twoframes before Kansas City rallied in the ninth off C.J. Wilson.

John Buck hit a hard ground ball to shortstop that would havebeen a game-ending double-play ball, but it took a bad bounceright over Young's head that turned into an RBI double. JoeyGathright followed with a run-scoring infield single to make it4-3.


But Wilson settled down to get Tony Pena Jr. to ground into agame-ending double play for his sixth save in helping theRangers record their third consecutive win.


Meche allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Hefanned four and walked three to remain winless in his last fiveoutings.


"That's the best I've pitched in this ballpark in three years,"Meche said. "We had our chances. It's just bad luck."

The Royals opened the scoring in the third on a bizarre seriesof Texas throwing mistakes. With one out, Pena beat out a slowgrounder to third base and DeJesus singled to right, beginning aLittle League-esque sequence that saw DeJesus successfullyescape a rundown between first and second and Pena thrown out athome plate in another rundown before DeJesus came around toscore after Laird's throw to second went into center field.

"I came in and could only laugh," Laird said. "It was kind offunny. It was one of those things, honestly, it was too funnyto get mad, so I just smiled and laughed it off. It was onerun, Padilla kept us in and we won the game."