KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer during a five-run sixth inning, Adolis Garcia added another three-run homer in the eighth, and the Texas Rangers pounced on some poor Kansas City Royals pitching in a 12-2 victory Tuesday night.
Sandy León also drove in a pair of runs, and three Rangers that reached base on walks from erratic Royals starter Brad Keller also scored, as Texas (11-6) improved to five games over .500 for the first time since July 16, 2019.
The Rangers also dealt the Royals their fifth straight loss. They are 1-11 at home this season.
Nathan Eovaldi (2-2) went six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out five. It was quite the bounce back after last week, when the Rangers’ right-hander allowed six runs on 10 hits in five innings against Kansas City.
Keller (2-2) allowed three runs on three hits and five walks, including leadoff walks in three of his four innings.
In the third, Brad Miller walked before Travis Jankowski’s single gave Texas a 1-0 lead. Then in the fourth, Josh Jung and Robbie Grossman walked before the pair scored on a single by Ezequiel Duran and Miller’s fielder’s choice.
Still, the Royals were within 3-2 after RBIs by MJ Melendez and Kyle Isbel when the Rangers put the game away in the sixth.
Royals reliever Carlos Hernández allowed four straight singles to start the inning, including the two-run base hit by León that extended the Rangers’ lead. Semien followed with his three-run shot that traveled 417 feet and made it 8-2.
The line for Hernández: five runs on five hits without a batter retired.
Amir Garrett proceeded to give up two more hits — that made it seven straight for the Rangers to start the sixth inning. Isbel cut down Jankowski trying to score from second with a spectacular throw from deep center field, though, and Garrett settled down enough to prevent Texas from scoring any more runs in the inning.
Given the way the Kansas City offense has performed this season, they already had more than enough.
DEGROM OK
Rangers ace Jacob deGrom plans to make his next start after leaving Monday night’s game after four hitless innings with a sore right wrist. But manager Bruce Bochy wants to see him throw Wednesday before penciling him into the rotation.
“That’s good news for us,” Bochy said. “Right now it’s all positive, and he’s positive on where he’s at with that arm.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Jon Gray (bruised right forearm) is “good to go” for his next start, Bochy said. Gray threw two shutout innings against the Astros on Saturday before taking a line drive off Yainer Diaz’s bat off the forearm.
Royals: LHP Kris Bubic (forearm flexor strain) will get a second opinion on his injury Thursday. He experienced tightness during his start Saturday against Atlanta and the Royals have some “underlying concerns,” manager Matt Quatraro said.
UP NEXT
Rangers LHP Martin Perez (2-1, 2.87 ERA) faces Royals RHP Brady Singer (1-0, 4.91) in the series finale Wednesday.
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