|
|
|
|
 |
|
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Weekly Lineup Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search Clubhouses |
| Sport Sections |
|
|
| |
Friday, Sep. 8 8:05pm ET
Rangers hold off Royals' rally | |||||
|
| ||||||
|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Even with his team ahead by five runs in the second inning, Texas manager Johnny Oates didn't feel comfortable. "In this game today, even in the seventh inning, you don't start thinking about an easy victory," Oates said. "With the offense the way it is, and knowing what we had available in the bullpen, we knew it wouldn't be easy." Rafael Palmeiro hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Rusty Greer returned from an injury with a three-run homer in the second Friday night, and the Rangers hung on to beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5. Ryan Glynn (5-3) allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, and John Wetteland got three outs for his 31st save in 39 chances, allowing a sacrifice fly to Mike Sweeney. "To be really truthful, I really didn't feel good out there," Glynn said. "I felt like I was fighting myself and my motion. I only pitched once in the bullpen between starts this time, when I usually pitch twice. I felt like my arm was too live. You're used to a certain pace. When you're arm feels too good, you overpower the ball." Palmeiro, Greer and Gabe Kapler each had three hits for the Rangers. Palmeiro followed Greer's first-inning single with his 35th homer, the 396th of his career, tying Joe Carter for 34th on the career list. Greer, who had been out of the starting lineup for four games because of a stiff neck, hit a three-run homer in the second after Royce Claytonsingled and Frank Catalanotto walked. "It's coming along," Greer said. "Coming back tonight after missing four games I was glad to contribute. It was a nice way to get things rolling again." Johnny Damon was 4-for-5 with two triples for Kansas City, his 53rd multihit game of the season and 29th since the All-Star break. Damon has 101 hits since the All-Star break and is hitting .419 season then, raising his average to .332. Blake Stein (6-4) gave up five runs and eight hits in four innings. "With their pitchers the umpire gave them the low strike, and with our pitchers he didn't," Jermaine Dye said. "When we were hitting, he called the low strike. When they were hitting, that's not what he called." Rey Sanchez hit into a run-scoring double play in the third to start Kansas City's comeback attempt, and Damon hit an RBI triple in a two-run fifth that also included a run-scoring infield grounder by Sanchez. Luis Alicea hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth off Dan Murray. Joe Randa homered in the eighth off Tim Crabtree. Game notesThe attendance of 14,705 increased Kansas City's total to 1,515,074 in 70 home dates, topping last year's total of 1,506,068. ... Texas won for just the sixth time in 17 road games. ... Damon has scored a league-leading 120 runs, second in Royals history behind Willie Wilson's 133 in 1980. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Texas Clubhouse Kansas City Clubhouse RECAPS NY Yankees 4 Boston 0
Texas 6
Pittsburgh 3
| |||||