AL: TEXAS at KANSAS CITY <div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: R Vazquez hit for J Hairston Jr. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, F CATALANOTTO ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 5 KANSAS CITY 6 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: R Vazquez (.253, 5 HR, 17 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at KANSAS CITY <div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: D Relaford ran for F Catalanotto. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D RELAFORD ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 5 KANSAS CITY 6 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: R Vazquez (.253, 0-FOR-0)</div>
AL: TEXAS at KANSAS CITY <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 9 0 KANSAS CITY 0 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 x 6 13 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD, WILLIE EYRE (3RD), JOHN RHEINECKER (6TH), FRANK FRANCISCO (8TH), C.J. WILSON (8TH) AND GERALD LAIRD KAN - ODALIS PEREZ, DAVID RISKE (7TH), ZACK GREINKE (8TH), OCTAVIO DOTEL (9TH) AND JOHN BUCK HOME RUNS: TEX - NELSON CRUZ (4) OFF ODALIS PEREZ IN THE 2ND, 1 ON NELSON CRUZ (5) OFF OCTAVIO DOTEL IN THE 9TH, 1 ON KAN - NONE</div>
AL: TEXAS at KANSAS CITY <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 9 0 KANSAS CITY 0 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 x 6 13 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD, WILLIE EYRE (3RD), JOHN RHEINECKER (6TH), FRANK FRANCISCO (8TH), C.J. WILSON (8TH) AND GERALD LAIRD KAN - ODALIS PEREZ, DAVID RISKE (7TH), ZACK GREINKE (8TH), OCTAVIO DOTEL (9TH) AND JOHN BUCK WP - ODALIS PEREZ (6-9) LP - KEVIN MILLWOOD (7-9) SAVE - OCTAVIO DOTEL (11) HOME RUNS: TEX - NELSON CRUZ (4) OFF ODALIS PEREZ IN THE 2ND, 1 ON NELSON CRUZ (5) OFF OCTAVIO DOTEL IN THE 9TH, 1 ON KAN - NONE TIME: 3:01 ATT: 27,700 PROBABLES: TEX - KAMERON LOE (5-8, 5.59) KAN - LEO NUNEZ (0-0, 2.25)</div>
AL: TEXAS at KANSAS CITY <div class="pre">TEXAS (5) VS KANSAS CITY (6) - FINAL TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Hairston Jr 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .192 a-R Vazquez ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .251 M Young ss 5 0 3 0 0 0 2 .300 M Teixeira 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .298 S Sosa dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .242 M Byrd cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .337 G Laird c 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .237 B Wilkerson lf 3 2 1 0 1 1 0 .225 N Cruz rf 3 2 2 5 1 0 0 .197 T Metcalf 3b 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 .237 b-F Catalanotto ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .232 D Relaford pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .115 Totals 36 5 9 5 2 9 13 a-struck out swinging for J Hairston Jr in the 9th; b-doubled to left for T Metcalf in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - M Young (28, O Perez); G Laird (12, O Perez); F Catalanotto (11, O Dotel). HR - N Cruz 2 (5, 2nd inning off O Perez 1 on, 1 Out, 9th inning off O Dotel 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - N Cruz 5 (17). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 2, M Young 1. Team LOB - 6. BASERUNNING: SB - M Young (9, 3rd base off O Perez/J Buck). FIELDING: Outfield assists - M Byrd (J Buck at 3rd base). DP: 3 (J Hairston Jr-M Young-M Teixeira, M Young-M Teixeira, M Teixeira-G Laird-T Metcalf). KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D DeJesus cf 3 0 1 1 1 0 2 .279 M Grudzielanek 2b 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 .304 M Teahen rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .280 B Butler dh 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .315 R Gload 1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .284 A Gordon 3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .245 E Brown lf 4 2 3 0 0 0 0 .235 J Buck c 3 1 3 2 1 0 0 .243 T Pena Jr ss 3 1 2 2 0 0 2 .284 Totals 32 6 13 6 2 2 13 BATTING: 2B - E Brown 2 (9, F Francisco, K Millwood); R Gload (12, K Millwood). S - T Pena Jr. RBI - J Buck 2 (35), M Grudzielanek (35), T Pena Jr 2 (35), D DeJesus (40). 2-out RBI - J Buck, M Grudzielanek, D DeJesus. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Teahen 2, B Butler 1. GIDP - T Pena Jr, A Gordon. Team LOB - 7. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 020 100 002 -- 5 KANSAS CITY - 024 000 00x -- 6 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Millwood (L, 7-9) 2 2/3 9 6 6 1 1 0 5.95 W Eyre 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.99 J Rheinecker 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.18 F Francisco 1/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.17 C Wilson 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.54 KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era O Perez (W, 6-9) 6 7 3 3 0 4 1 5.73 D Riske (H, 11) 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.22 Z Greinke (H, 8) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.33 O Dotel (S, 11) 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 3.91 HBP - D DeJesus (by K Millwood); M Grudzielanek (by K Millwood). Pitches-strikes: K Millwood 77-47; W Eyre 31-20; J Rheinecker 19-11; F Francisco 11-6; C Wilson 3-1; O Perez 91-64; D Riske 13-7; Z Greinke 16-11; O Dotel 27-17. Ground balls-fly balls: K Millwood 5-1; W Eyre 4-5; J Rheinecker 2-1; F Francisco 1-0; C Wilson 1-0; O Perez 6-8; D Riske 0-2; Z Greinke 1-0; O Dotel 0-1. Batters faced: K Millwood 19; W Eyre 10; J Rheinecker 4; F Francisco 3; C Wilson 1; O Perez 25; D Riske 4; Z Greinke 3; O Dotel 6. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Tschida. 1B--Todd Tichenor. 2B--Jim Wolf. 3B--Rob Drake. T--3:01. Att--27,700. Weather: 88 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 3 mph, swirling.</div>
AL: TEXAS at KANSAS CITY <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (5) AT KANSAS CITY (6) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS 2ND: G Laird flied out to center. B Wilkerson singled to center. N Cruz homered to left, B Wilkerson scored. T Metcalf struck out swinging. J Hairston Jr flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, KANSAS CITY 0. KANSAS CITY 2ND: R Gload grounded out to second. A Gordon popped out to shortstop. E Brown doubled to deep left. J Buck singled to right, E Brown scored. T Pena Jr singled to right, J Buck to second. D DeJesus hit by pitch, J Buck to third, T Pena Jr to second. M Grudzielanek hit by pitch, J Buck scored, T Pena Jr to third, D DeJesus to second. M Teahen struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, KANSAS CITY 2. KANSAS CITY 3RD: B Butler grounded out to second. R Gload doubled to deep left. A Gordon reached on infield single to third. E Brown singled to center, R Gload to third, A Gordon to second. J Buck singled to left, R Gload scored, A Gordon to third, E Brown to second. T Pena Jr singled to center, A Gordon and E Brown scored, J Buck out at third, T Pena Jr to second advancing on throw. D DeJesus singled to left, T Pena Jr scored. W Eyre relieved K Millwood. M Grudzielanek grounded into fielder's choice to third, D DeJesus out at second. (4 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, KANSAS CITY 6. TEXAS 4TH: G Laird doubled to deep left center. B Wilkerson grounded out to first, G Laird to third. N Cruz grounded out to second, G Laird scored. T Metcalf struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. TEXAS 9TH: O Dotel relieved Z Greinke. G Laird struck out swinging. B Wilkerson walked. B Wilkerson to second on fielder's indifference. N Cruz homered to left, B Wilkerson scored. F Catalanotto hit for T Metcalf. F Catalanotto doubled to left. R Vazquez hit for J Hairston Jr. D Relaford ran for F Catalanotto. R Vazquez struck out swinging. M Young flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, KANSAS CITY 6.</div>
Royals ride unlikely heroes to win over Rangers <h3>KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 5</h3>By Pat Madden PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - The bottom of the order and abounce-back outing by starting pitcher Odalis Perez propelledthe Kansas City Royals to their third straight victory, a 6-5win against the Texas Rangers on Saturday. John Buck collected three hits and two RBI, Emil Brown talliedthree hits and Tony Pena had two RBI as the the Royals' Nos. 7-9hitters went a combined 8-for-11 with four runs scored and fourRBI. Perez (6-9), who struggled against the Yankees in his laststart, made the effort stand up and won for the first time athome since April 20. He allowed three runs on seven hits oversix innings, striking out four in his first career start againstthe Rangers. The Royals chased Rangers starting pitcher Kevin Millwood (7-9)in the third inning by scoring four runs, including a two-runsingle by Pena and RBI singles by Buck and David DeJesus. Itwas DeJesus's 500th career hit. Millwood lost for the first time in four career starts at KansasCity. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings, surrendering five runs andnine hits and hit two batters. It was his shortest outingsince a 1 2/3-inning effort on May 4 versus the Los AngelesAngels. David Riske and Zack Greinke each tossed a scoreless frame tobridge the gap from Perez to closer Octavio Dotel, who workedaround some trouble in the ninth to post his 11th save in 14chances. After striking out Gerald Laird to open the final inning inwhich Kansas City led, 6-3, the righthander walked BradWilkerson before surrendering Nelson Cruz's second two-run homer- and fifth RBI - of the contest. Pinch hitter Frank Catalanotto followed with a double, but Dotelsettled down to strike out pinch hitter Ramon Vazquez and forceMichael Young to line out to right. Young had three hits - including a double - for the Rangers, wholost for the second straight game after four consecutivevictories.
AL: TEXAS at KANSAS CITY <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (5) AT KANSAS CITY (6) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Texas Starting Lineups -- J Hairston Jr 2B, M Young SS, M Teixeira 1B, S Sosa DH, M Byrd CF, G Laird C, B Wilkerson LF, N Cruz RF, T Metcalf 3B, K Millwood RHP. 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 Buck C, T Pena Jr SS, O Perez LHP. Umpires -- Tim Tschida (HP), Todd Tichenor (1B), Jim Wolf (2B), Rob Drake (3B). Gametime Weather: 88 degrees, Cloudy, wind swirling at 3 mph. TEXAS 1ST: J Hairston Jr lined out to second. M Young singled to center. M Teixeira singled to left, M Young to second. S Sosa struck out swinging. M Young stole third. M Byrd grounded into fielder's choice to third, M Teixeira out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, KANSAS CITY 0. KANSAS CITY 1ST: D DeJesus walked. M Grudzielanek grounded out to second, D DeJesus to second. M Teahen grounded out to second, D DeJesus to third. B Butler grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, KANSAS CITY 0. TEXAS 2ND: G Laird flied out to center. B Wilkerson singled to center. N Cruz homered to left, B Wilkerson scored. T Metcalf struck out swinging. J Hairston Jr flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, KANSAS CITY 0. KANSAS CITY 2ND: R Gload grounded out to second. A Gordon popped out to shortstop. E Brown doubled to deep left. J Buck singled to right, E Brown scored. T Pena Jr singled to right, J Buck to second. D DeJesus hit by pitch, J Buck to third, T Pena Jr to second. M Grudzielanek hit by pitch, J Buck scored, T Pena Jr to third, D DeJesus to second. M Teahen struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, KANSAS CITY 2. TEXAS 3RD: M Young doubled to left. M Teixeira flied out to center. S Sosa grounded out to second, M Young to third. M Byrd grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, KANSAS CITY 2. KANSAS CITY 3RD: B Butler grounded out to second. R Gload doubled to deep left. A Gordon reached on infield single to third. E Brown singled to center, R Gload to third, A Gordon to second. J Buck singled to left, R Gload scored, A Gordon to third, E Brown to second. T Pena Jr singled to center, A Gordon and E Brown scored, J Buck out at third, T Pena Jr to second advancing on throw. D DeJesus singled to left, T Pena Jr scored. W Eyre relieved K Millwood. M Grudzielanek grounded into fielder's choice to third, D DeJesus out at second. (4 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, KANSAS CITY 6. TEXAS 4TH: G Laird doubled to deep left center. B Wilkerson grounded out to first, G Laird to third. N Cruz grounded out to second, G Laird scored. T Metcalf struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. KANSAS CITY 4TH: M Teahen lined out to first. B Butler singled to right. R Gload flied out to left. A Gordon grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. TEXAS 5TH: J Hairston Jr flied out to right. M Young singled to right. M Teixeira lined out to left. S Sosa flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. KANSAS CITY 5TH: E Brown flied out to center. J Buck singled to right. T Pena Jr grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Buck out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. TEXAS 6TH: M Byrd grounded out to first. G Laird flied out to center. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. KANSAS CITY 6TH: D DeJesus flied out to center. M Grudzielanek popped out to second. J Rheinecker relieved W Eyre. M Teahen flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. TEXAS 7TH: D Riske relieved O Perez. N Cruz walked. T Metcalf struck out looking. J Hairston Jr flied out to left. M Young flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. KANSAS CITY 7TH: B Butler singled to center. R Gload struck out swinging. A Gordon grounded into double play, shortstop to first, B Butler out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. TEXAS 8TH: Z Greinke relieved D Riske. M Teixeira grounded out to first. S Sosa struck out swinging. M Byrd struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. KANSAS CITY 8TH: F Francisco relieved J Rheinecker. E Brown doubled to deep left center. J Buck walked. T Pena Jr sacrificed to first, E Brown to third, J Buck to second. C Wilson relieved F Francisco. D DeJesus grounded into double play, first to catcher to third, E Brown out at home.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, KANSAS CITY 6. TEXAS 9TH: O Dotel relieved Z Greinke. G Laird struck out swinging. B Wilkerson walked. B Wilkerson to second on fielder's indifference. N Cruz homered to left, B Wilkerson scored. F Catalanotto hit for T Metcalf. F Catalanotto doubled to left. R Vazquez hit for J Hairston Jr. D Relaford ran for F Catalanotto. R Vazquez struck out swinging. M Young flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 5, KANSAS CITY 6.</div>
Royals ride unlikely heroes to win over Rangers <h3>KANSAS CITY 6, TEXAS 5</h3>By Pat Madden PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - The bottom of the order and abounce-back outing by starting pitcher Odalis Perez propelledthe Kansas City Royals to their third straight win, a 6-5victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. John Buck collected three hits and two RBI, Emil Brown talliedthree hits and Tony Pena Jr. had two RBI as the the Royals' Nos.7-9 hitters went a combined 8-for-11 with four runs scored andfour RBI. Perez (6-9), who struggled against the Yankees in his laststart, made the effort stand up and won for the first time athome since April 20. He allowed three runs on seven hits oversix innings, striking out four in his first career start againstthe Rangers. "Perez gave us a chance to win after he struggled early," Royalsmanager Buddy Bell said. "He was very good tonight. Hechanged speeds, he had good command. He did a nice job." "I went with my fastball down and away, my changeup down andaway and cutter away too," Perez said. "After Cruz hit thattwo-run homer, I felt more comfortable with my pitches beingdown and away. Everything came out good." The Royals chased Rangers starting pitcher Kevin Millwood (7-9)in the third inning by scoring four runs, including a two-runsingle by Pena and RBI singles by Buck and David DeJesus. Itwas DeJesus's 500th career hit. "It was a nice night," Bell said. "It was nice to see (Buck),who has been having a little tough time with men in scoringposition, come through tonight. He did a great job." "I know he (Millwood) usually works ahead and kind of fellbehind and was able to hit a mistake out over the plate in thefirst inning in the first at-bat," Buck said. "In the secondat-bat, it was 3-2 and he had to be aggressive over the middleof the plate with the bases loaded and he gave me a good pitchto hit and I was able to get it out to left." Millwood lost for the first time in four career starts at KansasCity. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings, surrendering five runs andnine hits and hit two batters. It was his shortest outingsince a 1 2/3-inning effort on May 4 against the Los AngelesAngels. "Millwood didn't have command of his stuff," Rangers manager RonWashington said. "He threw it in the strike zone and they hitit. He couldn't get the breaking stuff over. The Royals madehim work in the second and third innings." Millwood was 3-1 with a 2.51 ERA in his previous four Julystarts. David Riske and Zack Greinke each tossed a scoreless frame tobridge the gap from Perez to closer Octavio Dotel, who workedaround some trouble in the ninth to post his 11th save in 14chances. After striking out Gerald Laird to open the final inning inwhich Kansas City led, 6-3, the righthander walked BradWilkerson before surrendering Nelson Cruz's second two-run homer- and fifth RBI - of the contest. "I don't know what he hit off Dotel, but he put his hands backon it and hit it hard," Washington said. "He hit well tonight." "I have a new stance that helps me see better on insidepitches," Cruz said. "The first home run was off a cutter, thelast one was a fastball." Pinch hitter Frank Catalanotto followed with a double, but Dotelsettled down to strike out pinch hitter Ramon Vazquez and forceMichael Young to line out to right. "Closers, when they were born, I guess the Lord said, 'You'regoing to make people nervous when you close games,'" Bell saidof Dotel's outing. "That's kind of the way it is." Young had three hits - including a double - for the Rangers, wholost for the second straight game after four consecutivevictories.
