Rangers Start Fast, Fizzle In 6-3 Loss To Royals
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — One pitch, one run, and the Texas Rangers appeared headed for an offensive night like they haven't enjoyed often this season.
But they managed only six singles the rest of the night against Kansas City pitching, didn't score again until the ninth inning and lost to the Royals 6-3 Saturday.
The team with the worst record in the major leagues did little against Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie (10-10) following Shin-Soo Choo's home run on his first pitch.
Texas added only four singles off Guthrie through eight innings before scoring twice off reliever Aaron Crow.
"The margin of error is narrow, for sure," Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus said. "You have to bring your 'A' game every single time, every inning. It's been a tough year. It's been a learning process for us for this year."
Nick Tepesch (4-8) kept pace with Guthrie going into the fifth, likewise allowing only a solo homer in the first inning, to Alex Gordon. But the Royals broke the tie that inning with three runs, capitalizing on Tepesch's wildness.
He gave up three four-pitch walks and two singles that inning. With the bases loaded, Tepesch walked Jarrod Dyson and then allowed a two-run single to Omar Infante on an 0-2 pitch.
"I felt like I was little all over the place all night," Tepesch said. "I think that inning was just the worst of it."
Dyson chased Tepesch in the seventh with the two-run single on which Lorenzo Cain slid in with the second run. The safe call was confirmed by video replay following a challenge by Texas manager Ron Washington.
Dyson drove in three runs, matching a career high, with the bases-loaded walk and a two-run single for the Royals.
Tepesch unsuccessfully sought a third consecutive quality start for the first time in his two-year career in the majors. He allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks in 6 1-3 innings.
Choo's homer was his 14th leading off a game since the beginning of the 2012 season, most in the majors.
Texas' Adrian Beltre had his fourth consecutive multihit game. Leonys Martin drove in two runs with a ninth-inning single.
"In the fifth inning, (the Royals) got something going, and they got the hits to cash it in," Washington said. "That's the one thing we have to do."
DARVISH STAYING HOME
Rangers RHP Yu Darvish (right elbow inflammation) won't travel with the club on Sunday night for the start of a three-city, 10-game road trip. Washington said Darvish, eligible to come off the disabled list Monday, hasn't thrown since reporting soreness on Aug. 9.
GIMENEZ DEALT
Triple-A Round Rock catcher C Chris Gimenez, who appeared in 34 games for Texas this season, was traded Saturday to the Cleveland Indians for future considerations.
RANGERS ROYALTY
Former team president Tom Schieffer was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame before the game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: 1B Eric Hosmer, out with a stress fracture on his right hand since Aug. 2, is expected to undergo another X-ray on Monday after the team returns home.
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland was scratched from a scheduled rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday after experiencing back spasms Friday.
UP NEXT
Texas RHP Scott Baker (1-3) will make his fifth spot start of the season on Sunday in the regular spot of Darvish. He'll oppose LHP Jason Vargas (10-5), whose road ERA of 2.07 is fifth-lowest in the AL.
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