Rangers-Royals: Texas Rallies Late, Topples Kansas City

The Rangers began a three-game series against the Royals with their two best players—Josh Hamilton and Michael Young—back in the lineup, and team ace Kevin Millwood on the mound.

However., it would be the Royals who struck first. In the first inning, Jose Guillen's single to center scored David DeJesus, who had singled on the first pitch of the inning.

Millwood would calm down after that, allowing one baserunner over the next two innings, while striking out four.

But in the fourth inning, the Royals scored again.  After a lead-off double by Guillen, catcher John Buck's single to left would scored Guillen from third.

Kansas City added another run in the fifth on Alex Gordon's sixth home run of the season—a solo shot to right-center.

Answering quickly in the next half inning, Texas loaded the bases without surrendering an out.  But with the bases full of Rangers, RBI leader Hamilton could only hit into a fielders' choice, scoring Ramon Vazquez.

With a runner still in scoring position and only one out, Texas couldn't add any more runs.

Kansas City would respond in the bottom of the inning. Three straight singles and a fielding error from Milton Bradley scored Buck and shortstop Mike Aviles.

The Royals would take their 5-1 lead into the eighth inning, when Young was able to work a two-out walk.

Then, on a routine groundout from Hamilton, Royals first baseman Mark Teahan dropped the ball.

Some teams in baseball, you can't afford to give them extra outs. The 2008 Texas Rangers are one of those teams.

Bradley promptly doubled to right field, scoring Young and Hamilton.  David Murphy followed by singling to right and scoring Bradley, to bring the Rangers to within one run.

After a Gerald Laird single, first baseman Chris Shelton—who replaced starter Frank Catalanotto in the seventh—singled to right.  Murphy was able to beat the throw and score from second, tying the game.

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth from the Royals, Ian Kinsler lead off the ninth inning with a double down the left-field line.

Kinsler would move to third on a Young groundout, but RBI leader Josh Hamilton was unable to bring him home, striking out for the third time on the night.

Royals reliever Ramon Ramirez's second pitch to Murphy would skip past Buck.  Without any hesitation, Kinsler broke from third. The ball bounced directly back to Buck, but Ramirez seemed to hesitate running towards the plate.

In a bang-bang play, home plate umpire Mike Everitt called Kinsler safe—and from my perspective, he seemed to make the correct call.

Rangers closer C.J. Wilson held onto the lead and recorded his 12th save of the season, while "Everyday Eddie" Guardado got his first win of the season.

Michael Young's single in the sixth inning extended his Major League-leading hitting streak to 23 games, now two short of his career best.

Josh Hamilton's RBI single in the next at-bat was his Major League leading 70th of the season.

Royal starter Gil Meche went six solid innings, allowing only one run on four hits, before the bullpen blew his quality start.

Kansas City manager Trey Hillman was ejected in the bottom of the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes.  Hillman still seemed heated from his club blowing a four-run lead in the prior half inning.

The Rangers and Royals play again Wednesday night, 7:10 CST.  Vicente Padilla takes the mound for Texas, and Kyle Davies will start for Kansas City.