AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: W Littleton relieved W Eyre. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6 TEXAS 2 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: E German (.281, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - PITCHING CHANGE TEX: A.J. MURRAY (0-1, 7.94) IN THE 9TH SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, B BUTLER ON FIRST, M GRUDZIELANEK ON SECOND, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 2 DUE UP FOR KANSASCITY: M TEAHEN (.286, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>
AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: A Murray relieved W Littleton. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, B BUTLER ON FIRST, M GRUDZIELANEK ON SECOND, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6 TEXAS 2 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M Teahen (.286, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>
AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - KANSAS CITY 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 6 10 0 TEXAS 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 9 0 (BOT 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - ZACK GREINKE TEX - A.J. MURRAY DUE UP FOR TEXAS: A MELHUSE (.222, 0-FOR-3) J SALTALAMACCHIA (.192, 2-FOR-3) D MURPHY (.500, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (6) VS TEXAS (2) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg E German 3b 4 0 0 0 1 1 1 .280 D DeJesus cf 4 1 0 0 1 0 1 .272 M Grudzielanek 2b 5 1 3 0 0 0 0 .302 B Butler dh 3 1 2 1 2 0 0 .308 M Teahen rf 5 1 1 1 0 0 5 .285 E Brown lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .226 a-J Gathright ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336 A Gordon 1b 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 .245 J Buck c 4 0 2 3 0 1 1 .233 T Pena Jr ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 Totals 36 6 10 6 5 3 11 a-grounded to shortstop for E Brown in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - M Grudzielanek (25, J Rheinecker); J Buck (17, W Eyre). HR - A Gordon (11, 7th inning off J Rheinecker 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - B Butler (35), A Gordon (41), M Teahen (51), J Buck 3 (43). 2-out RBI - J Buck 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E German 1, T Pena Jr 1, M Teahen 3. GIDP - J Buck, E Brown. Team LOB - 8. FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Pena Jr-M Grudzielanek-A Gordon). TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto lf 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 .249 I Kinsler 2b 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .258 M Young ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .304 S Sosa dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .243 M Byrd cf 4 0 2 0 0 1 3 .321 B Wilkerson 1b 4 0 0 0 0 4 2 .229 A Melhuse 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .222 J Saltalamacchia c 3 1 2 0 0 0 1 .192 D Murphy rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .500 Totals 32 2 9 2 1 9 16 BATTING: HR - F Catalanotto (9, 1st inning off L Nunez 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - F Catalanotto (35), I Kinsler (43). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 2, S Sosa 1. GIDP - A Melhuse. Team LOB - 7. FIELDING: DP: 2 (I Kinsler-M Young-B Wilkerson, M Young-I Kinsler-B Wilkerson). ---------------------------------------------------- KANSAS CITY - 100 000 140 -- 6 TEXAS - 100 010 00 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era L Nunez 3 4 1 1 1 3 1 1.96 J Bale 1 1/3 3 1 1 0 2 0 3.77 R Braun 2 2/3 2 0 0 0 2 0 6.84 Z Greinke 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.54 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era J Rheinecker 7 1/3 6 2 2 3 2 1 5.82 W Eyre 2/3 3 4 4 1 0 0 5.16 W Littleton 2/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.28 A Murray 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.50 L Nunez pitched to 1 batter in the 4th. WP - J Rheinecker. IBB - B Butler (by J Rheinecker), A Gordon (by W Eyre). Pitches-strikes: L Nunez 67-41; J Bale 19-15; R Braun 33-22; Z Greinke 15-9; J Rheinecker 89-60; W Eyre 16-10; W Littleton 21-15; A Murray 3-2. Ground balls-fly balls: L Nunez 4-2; J Bale 2-0; R Braun 2-4; Z Greinke 1-0; J Rheinecker 15-5; W Eyre 2-1; W Littleton 0-1; A Murray 1-0. Batters faced: L Nunez 14; J Bale 6; R Braun 10; Z Greinke 3; J Rheinecker 29; W Eyre 7; W Littleton 4; A Murray 1. UMPIRES: HP--Wally Bell. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Bill Welke. 3B--John Hirschbeck. (Plus rain delay totaling 22 minutes in the 4th). Weather: 91 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>
AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - PITCHING CHANGE KAN: JOAKIM SORIA (1-3, 2.12) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 2 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: A MELHUSE (.222, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Soria relieved Z Greinke. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 6 TEXAS 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: A Melhuse (.222, 0-FOR-3)</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 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 6 10 0 TEXAS 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 9 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: KAN - LEO NUNEZ, JOHN BALE (4TH), RYAN BRAUN (5TH), ZACK GREINKE (8TH), JOAKIM SORIA (9TH) AND JOHN BUCK TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER, WILLIE EYRE (8TH), WES LITTLETON (9TH), A.J. MURRAY (9TH) AND JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA HOME RUNS: KAN - ALEX GORDON (11) OFF JOHN RHEINECKER IN THE 7TH, 0 ON TEX - FRANK CATALANOTTO (9) OFF LEO NUNEZ IN THE 1ST, 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 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 6 10 0 TEXAS 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 9 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: KAN - LEO NUNEZ, JOHN BALE (4TH), RYAN BRAUN (5TH), ZACK GREINKE (8TH), JOAKIM SORIA (9TH) AND JOHN BUCK TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER, WILLIE EYRE (8TH), WES LITTLETON (9TH), A.J. MURRAY (9TH) AND JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA WP - RYAN BRAUN (1-0) LP - WILLIE EYRE (4-6) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: KAN - ALEX GORDON (11) OFF JOHN RHEINECKER IN THE 7TH, 0 ON TEX - FRANK CATALANOTTO (9) OFF LEO NUNEZ IN THE 1ST, 0 ON TIME: 3:21 ATT: 22,674 PROBABLES: TEX - KASON GABBARD (5-1, 3.83) MIN - CARLOS SILVA (9-12, 4.30) PROBABLES: KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER (8-7, 3.41) OAK - DAN MEYER (NR)</div>
AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (6) VS TEXAS (2) - FINAL KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg E German 3b 4 0 0 0 1 1 1 .280 D DeJesus cf 4 1 0 0 1 0 1 .272 M Grudzielanek 2b 5 1 3 0 0 0 0 .302 B Butler dh 3 1 2 1 2 0 0 .308 M Teahen rf 5 1 1 1 0 0 5 .285 E Brown lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .226 a-J Gathright ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .336 A Gordon 1b 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 .245 J Buck c 4 0 2 3 0 1 1 .233 T Pena Jr ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269 Totals 36 6 10 6 5 3 11 a-grounded to shortstop for E Brown in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - M Grudzielanek (25, J Rheinecker); J Buck (17, W Eyre). HR - A Gordon (11, 7th inning off J Rheinecker 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - B Butler (35), A Gordon (41), M Teahen (51), J Buck 3 (43). 2-out RBI - J Buck 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E German 1, T Pena Jr 1, M Teahen 3. GIDP - J Buck, E Brown. Team LOB - 8. FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Pena Jr-M Grudzielanek-A Gordon). TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto lf 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 .249 I Kinsler 2b 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .258 M Young ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .304 S Sosa dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .243 M Byrd cf 4 0 2 0 0 1 3 .321 B Wilkerson 1b 4 0 0 0 0 4 2 .229 A Melhuse 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .220 J Saltalamacchia c 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .189 D Murphy rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .462 Totals 35 2 9 2 1 9 16 BATTING: HR - F Catalanotto (9, 1st inning off L Nunez 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - F Catalanotto (35), I Kinsler (43). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 2, S Sosa 1. GIDP - A Melhuse. Team LOB - 7. FIELDING: DP: 2 (I Kinsler-M Young-B Wilkerson, M Young-I Kinsler-B Wilkerson). ---------------------------------------------------- KANSAS CITY - 100 000 140 -- 6 TEXAS - 100 010 000 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era L Nunez 3 4 1 1 1 3 1 1.96 J Bale 1 1/3 3 1 1 0 2 0 3.77 R Braun (W, 1-0) 2 2/3 2 0 0 0 2 0 6.84 Z Greinke 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.54 J Soria 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.08 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era J Rheinecker 7 1/3 6 2 2 3 2 1 5.82 W Eyre (L, 4-6) 2/3 3 4 4 1 0 0 5.16 W Littleton 2/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.28 A Murray 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.50 L Nunez pitched to 1 batter in the 4th. WP - J Rheinecker. IBB - B Butler (by J Rheinecker), A Gordon (by W Eyre). Pitches-strikes: L Nunez 67-41; J Bale 19-15; R Braun 33-22; Z Greinke 15-9; J Soria 12-8; J Rheinecker 89-60; W Eyre 16-10; W Littleton 21-15; A Murray 3-2. Ground balls-fly balls: L Nunez 4-2; J Bale 2-0; R Braun 2-4; Z Greinke 1-0; J Soria 2-1; J Rheinecker 15-5; W Eyre 2-1; W Littleton 0-1; A Murray 1-0. Batters faced: L Nunez 14; J Bale 6; R Braun 10; Z Greinke 3; J Soria 3; J Rheinecker 29; W Eyre 7; W Littleton 4; A Murray 1. UMPIRES: HP--Wally Bell. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Bill Welke. 3B--John Hirschbeck. T--3:21. (Plus rain delay totaling 22 minutes in the 4th). Att--22,674. Weather: 91 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, in from left.</div>
AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KANSAS CITY (6) AT TEXAS (2) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KANSAS CITY 1ST: E German grounded out to shortstop. D DeJesus walked. M Grudzielanek doubled to deep right center, D DeJesus to third. B Butler grounded out to third, D DeJesus scored, M Grudzielanek to third. M Teahen grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 1ST: F Catalanotto homered to right. I Kinsler struck out swinging. M Young grounded out to second. S Sosa grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 5TH: J Saltalamacchia singled to center. D Murphy singled to right, J Saltalamacchia to third. F Catalanotto struck out swinging. I Kinsler singled to right, J Saltalamacchia scored, D Murphy to second. R Braun relieved J Bale. M Young struck out looking. S Sosa reached on infield single to shortstop, D Murphy to third, I Kinsler to second. M Byrd flied out to center. (1 Run, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 2. KANSAS CITY 7TH: E Brown grounded out to second. A Gordon homered to right. J Buck singled to center. T Pena Jr grounded out to pitcher, J Buck to second. E German grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, TEXAS 2. KANSAS CITY 8TH: D DeJesus flied out to right. W Eyre relieved J Rheinecker. M Grudzielanek singled to center. B Butler singled to center, M Grudzielanek to third. M Teahen grounded into fielder's choice to first, M Grudzielanek scored, B Butler to second. J Gathright hit for E Brown. J Gathright grounded out to shortstop, B Butler to third, M Teahen to second. A Gordon intentionally walked. J Buck doubled to deep right center, B Butler, M Teahen and A Gordon scored. T Pena Jr flied out to center. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 2.</div>
AL: KANSAS CITY at TEXAS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KANSAS CITY (6) AT TEXAS (2) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kansas City Starting Lineups -- E German 3B, D DeJesus CF, M Grudzielanek 2B, B Butler DH, M Teahen RF, E Brown LF, A Gordon 1B, J Buck C, T Pena Jr SS, L Nunez RHP. Texas Starting Lineups -- F Catalanotto LF, I Kinsler 2B, M Young SS, S Sosa DH, M Byrd CF, B Wilkerson 1B, A Melhuse 3B, J Saltalamacchia C, D Murphy RF, J Rheinecker LHP. Umpires -- Wally Bell (HP), Laz Diaz (1B), Bill Welke (2B), John Hirschbeck (3B). Gametime Weather: 91 degrees, Cloudy, wind in from left at 10 mph. KANSAS CITY 1ST: E German grounded out to shortstop. D DeJesus walked. M Grudzielanek doubled to deep right center, D DeJesus to third. B Butler grounded out to third, D DeJesus scored, M Grudzielanek to third. M Teahen grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 1ST: F Catalanotto homered to right. I Kinsler struck out swinging. M Young grounded out to second. S Sosa grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. KANSAS CITY 2ND: E Brown popped out to second. A Gordon singled to center. J Buck grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, A Gordon out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 2ND: M Byrd singled to center. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. A Melhuse struck out swinging. J Saltalamacchia flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. KANSAS CITY 3RD: T Pena Jr popped out to second. E German grounded out to shortstop. D DeJesus grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 3RD: D Murphy grounded out to shortstop. F Catalanotto walked. I Kinsler reached on bunt single to third, F Catalanotto to second. M Young grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, I Kinsler out at second, F Catalanotto to third. S Sosa flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. KANSAS CITY 4TH: M Grudzielanek grounded out to second. B Butler singled to right. M Teahen reached on bunt single to pitcher, B Butler to second. E Brown grounded into double play, shortstop to first, M Teahen out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 4TH: M Byrd reached on infield single to third. J Bale relieved L Nunez. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. A Melhuse grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, M Byrd out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. KANSAS CITY 5TH: A Gordon struck out swinging. J Buck struck out swinging. T Pena Jr popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. TEXAS 5TH: J Saltalamacchia singled to center. D Murphy singled to right, J Saltalamacchia to third. F Catalanotto struck out swinging. I Kinsler singled to right, J Saltalamacchia scored, D Murphy to second. R Braun relieved J Bale. M Young struck out looking. S Sosa reached on infield single to shortstop, D Murphy to third, I Kinsler to second. M Byrd flied out to center. (1 Run, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 2. KANSAS CITY 6TH: E German walked. D DeJesus flied out to center. M Grudzielanek grounded out to pitcher, E German to second. E German to third on wild pitch by J Rheinecker. B Butler intentionally walked. M Teahen grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 2. TEXAS 6TH: B Wilkerson struck out looking. A Melhuse flied out to left. J Saltalamacchia reached on infield single to third. D Murphy flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 2. KANSAS CITY 7TH: E Brown grounded out to second. A Gordon homered to right. J Buck singled to center. T Pena Jr grounded out to pitcher, J Buck to second. E German grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, TEXAS 2. TEXAS 7TH: F Catalanotto grounded out to pitcher. I Kinsler grounded out to third. M Young flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 2, TEXAS 2. KANSAS CITY 8TH: D DeJesus flied out to right. W Eyre relieved J Rheinecker. M Grudzielanek singled to center. B Butler singled to center, M Grudzielanek to third. M Teahen grounded into fielder's choice to first, M Grudzielanek scored, B Butler to second. J Gathright hit for E Brown. J Gathright grounded out to shortstop, B Butler to third, M Teahen to second. A Gordon intentionally walked. J Buck doubled to deep right center, B Butler, M Teahen and A Gordon scored. T Pena Jr flied out to center. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 2. TEXAS 8TH: J Gathright in left field. Z Greinke relieved R Braun. S Sosa grounded out to third. M Byrd struck out swinging. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 2. KANSAS CITY 9TH: W Littleton relieved W Eyre. E German struck out swinging. D DeJesus flied out to center. M Grudzielanek reached on infield single to third. B Butler walked, M Grudzielanek to second. A Murray relieved W Littleton. M Teahen grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 2. TEXAS 9TH: J Soria relieved Z Greinke. A Melhuse grounded out to pitcher. J Saltalamacchia grounded out to second. D Murphy lined out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 2.</div>
Buck, Royals use four-run eighth to beat Rangers <h3>KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 2</h3>By John Tranchina PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- John Buck broke out of his slump ina big way. Buck delivered a clutch three-run double in the eighth inning tohelp the Kansas City Royals avoid a series sweep against theTexas Rangers, 6-2, on Thursday night. Buck, who entered the game in a 1-for-13 funk, drilled a linedrive into the gap in right-center field with the bases loadedin the eighth off reliever Willie Eyre (4-6), capping KansasCity's four-run uprising. Tied at 1-1, the game was delayed 22 minutes after a suddendownpour occurred in the fourth inning. Alex Gordon drilled an 0-2 pitch into the Texas bullpen inright-center field off Rangers starter John Rheinecker to tiethe game at 2-2. It was Gordon's 11th blast of the season,which is the second-most among American League rookies. The Royals then went ahead an inning later, when MarkGrudzielanek scored from third on Mark Teahen's slow grounder tofirst, sliding head first under the tag from catcher JarrodSaltalamacchia. After Joey Gathright's groundout advancedrunners to second and third with two outs, Gordon wasintentionally walked to load the bases to set up Buck'slate-game heroics. Kansas City's Ryan Braun (1-0) tossed 2 2/3 scoreless frames forthe win. Rheinecker allowed just two runs and six hits while walkingthree and striking out two in a season-high 7 1/3 innings. Thelefthander delivered an impressive performance but for thefourth time in his last five appearances got a no-decision. The Royals opened the scoring in the first as David DeJesuswalked and later scored on Billy Butler's RBI groundout tothird. But the Rangers got that run right back when Frank Catalanottoled off the bottom of the first with his ninth home run of theseason, blasting an 0-1 pitch into the right field seats offstarter Leo Nunez. Catalanotto has two leadoff homers in 11days. Making just his fourth major league start, Nunez settled down toretire seven of the next eight batters he faced. But the24-year-old would not stick around to finish the game. Immediately following the rain delay, Marlon Byrd lined aleadoff single that appeared to ricochet off the back of Nunez'sright knee, forcing the righthander to leave the game aftergiving up one run and four hits in just three-plus innings. Itwas later announced that Nunez came out because he tore acallous on his right thumb. Texas took a 2-1 lead in the fifth off reliever John Bale, whenIan Kinsler's one-out single to right scored Saltalamacchia. TheRangers loaded the bases after that against Braun, who replacedBale, but Byrd flew out to end the threat.
Buck, Royals use four-run eighth to beat Rangers <h3>KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 2</h3>By John Tranchina PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- John Buck broke out of his slumpin a big way. Buck delivered a clutch three-run double in the eighth inning tohelp the Kansas City Royals avoid a series sweep against theTexas Rangers, 6-2, on Thursday night. Buck, who entered the game in a 1-for-13 funk, drilled a linedrive into the gap in right-center field with the bases loadedin the eighth off reliever Willie Eyre (4-6), capping KansasCity's four-run uprising. "I've made some adjustments with (hitting coach Mike Barnett)and (Royals manager Buddy Bell) and quieted down a little bit,because teams are just junk-balling me to death," Buck said. "Sowe had to make an adjustment and finally starting to feelgood." "We couldn't use some of the guys we normally would," Rangersmanager Ron Washington said. "We had to get someone else to stepup. Willie got some ground balls for us that found holes andthen left one up to Buck." Alex Gordon drilled an 0-2 pitch into the Texas bullpen inright-center field off Rangers starter John Rheinecker to tiethe game at 2-2 in the seventh. It was Gordon's 11th blast ofthe season, which is the second-most among American Leaguerookies. "Alex kind of got us going," Bell said. "It was nice to seeAlex get us going and Johnny Buck, nice to see him get a bighit, get us some separation." "That helped," Buck said. "Sometimes that's what it takes, toget that big hit to relax everybody. Sometimes that string ofhits is such a big feat, and to be able to get one run with oneswing helps out. That was a huge home run." The Royals then went ahead an inning later, when MarkGrudzielanek scored from third on Mark Teahen's slow grounder tofirst, sliding head first under the tag from catcher JarrodSaltalamacchia. After Joey Gathright's groundout advancedrunners to second and third with two outs, Gordon wasintentionally walked to load the bases to set up Buck'slate-game heroics. "(Grudzielanek) slid around the plate and made a good slide,"Saltalamacchia said. "It is one of those plays I might havetried to go get it instead of letting it come to me." "(Saltalamacchia) was trying to make sure he got the ball andGrudzielanek got by him," Washington said. "Grudzielanek madethe play by being aggressive. We were inches away from gettingout of the inning." Kansas City's Ryan Braun (1-0) tossed 2 2/3 scoreless frames,allowing just two hits, for his first major league win in his25th appearance. "It definitely feels good. It took a little longer than I washoping," Braun said. "I felt good today, I was able mainly tojust get ahead a lot quicker than some other outings this year.I was able to give them some a swing at the first pitch and getsome early outs, that always helps out. It was mainly justgetting ahead." "He's a kid with a good arm," Bell said. "Obviously, he has noreal experience. We need to see more of him, we need to bringhim in in situations like this, rather than mop-up situations,so we can see what he's got. Really, he was about as good as hecould get. We needed it too." Rheinecker allowed just two runs and six hits while walkingthree and striking out two in a season-high 7 1/3 innings. Thelefthander delivered an impressive performance but for thefourth time in his last five outings got a no-decision. "I'd like to take one pitch back, the one to Gordon," Rheineckersaid. "I felt I should have gone deeper into the count withhim. Other than that, I thought we were right on with ourscouting report. I threw my change-up a lot. We'll keep goingwith that until they prove they can hit it." "He was outstanding," Washington said. "He got us to the eighthinning and he was good. He pounded the strike zone, mixed upspeeds and was getting outs." The Royals opened the scoring in the first as David DeJesuswalked and later scored on Billy Butler's RBI groundout tothird. But the Rangers got that run right back when Frank Catalanottoled off the bottom of the first with his ninth home run of theseason, blasting an 0-1 pitch into the right field seats offstarter Leo Nunez. Catalanotto has two leadoff homers in 11days. Making just his fourth major league start, Nunez settled down toretire seven of the next eight batters he faced. But the24-year-old would not stick around to finish the game. Immediately following the rain delay, Marlon Byrd lined aleadoff single that appeared to ricochet off the back of Nunez'sright knee. The righthander left the game after giving up onerun and four hits in just three-plus innings. It was laterannounced that Nunez came out because he tore a callous on hisright thumb. "It's a blister below his knuckle on his thumb, inside," Bellsaid. "He said it wasn't bothering him, but after the twopitches he threw to Wilkerson, it didn't look like he had a realgood feel. And with Nunie, he's not going to tell you he wantsout of there." Texas took a 2-1 lead in the fifth off reliever John Bale, whenIan Kinsler's one-out single to right scored Saltalamacchia. TheRangers loaded the bases after that against Braun, who replacedBale, but Byrd flew out to end the threat. "That was huge for us," Buck said. "If (Braun) doesn't come outand pitch like that. He faced the good heart of their lineup acouple of times, so to get through that, that was a huge coupleof innings and huge for our bullpen to go into the next series." "That was a big situation right there, runners on, they ended uploading the bases," Braun said. "That was a fastball (toByrd), he flew out. Then the offense came through with some bighits, Gordon with the big home run, and then Buck."
