Royals Vs Rangers: Offense Disappaears In 3-1 Loss

The Kansas City Royals (81-73) just couldn’t stir up any offense in their 3-1 defeat to the Texas Rangers (84-70) on Saturday night. The Royals have battled their way into this playoff race, but their backs are against the wall. If they are to keep their hopes alive, the Royals can’t really lose more than one more game, and it can’t be tomorrow.

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

On the Mound

This was a typical, unspectacular outing for Jeremy Guthrie. He went 6 innings, giving up three runs on 7 hits and 2 walks on the night. Four of the hits and both walks came in the first three innings. Both walks came in the 3rd, and both turned into runs. Guthrie hung tough but his offense just didn’t produce on this night.

Three relievers pitched a total of 3 scoreless innings, allowing just 1 combined hit and no walks.

At the Plate

Kansas City was toothless almost all night at the plate. They only knocked out 5 total hits and only walked twice. The only run came on a 9th inning home opposite field home run off the bat of Eric Hosmer.

This and That

Hosmer’s home run was the first home run since Sunday. They only have 105 home runs as a team, last in the American League. Surprisingly, two National League teams have fewer – Miami (92) and San Francisco (98).

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

We’ll go with Hosmer on a night bereft of candidates.

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

• James Shields – 14
• Alex Gordon – 17
• Wade Davis – 5
• Lorenzo Cain – 8
• Luis Mendoza – 3
• Billy Butler – 12
• Ervin Santana – 12
• Miguel Tejada – 5
• Jeremy Guthrie -6
• Eric Hosmer – 15
• Chris Getz – 3
• Mike Moustakas – 7
• Aaron Crow
• Jarrod Dyson – 3
• David Lough – 8
• Alcides Escobar – 7
• J.C. Gutierrez
• Jeff Francoeur
• Bruce Chen – 5
• Salvador Perez – 12
• Will Smith – 2
• George Kottaras
• Louis Coleman – 2
• Bruce Chen – 2
• Justin Maxwell – 2
• Greg Holland -2
• Danny Duffy – 2
  
• Luke Hochevar – 2
• Yordano Ventura

The Rangers

Matt Garza dominated the Royals throughout the game. His manager, Ron Washington, tried to get him the complete game shutout, but Eric Hosmer busted up that notion while leading off the 9th.

Joe Nathan pitched the last 3 outs to record his 40th save. It was also his 40th career save against Kansas City, the most against any opponent. He is also 3-0 in his career against the Royals.

Up Next

It is another big game for James Shields (12-9, 3.33 ERA). The Royals cannot lose to the Rangers tomorrow if they want to stay even on the fringes of the wild card race. Alexi Ogando (7-4, 3.15) will go for Texas.

AL Central Notes

Detroit Tigers (91-64): It took 12 innings, but the Tigers still beat the White Sox 7-6 when Omar Infante singled home Don Kelly for the winning run. Rick Porcello started the game and struck out 9 in 6.2 frames. Detroit had scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th to send to extra innings.

Cleveland Indians (85-70): Scott Kazmir pitched 7 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in a 4-1 win over the Rangers, keeping the Indians in second place in the wild card standing.

Minnesota Twins (65-89): The Twins got plastered by the Athletics again, this 9-1. The A’s racked up 16 hits as the Twins put up no resistance.

Chicago White Sox (60-94): Chris Sale pitched seven 4-hit, shutout innings against the Tigers and left the game with a lead. The Tigers scored 6 in the 9th to tie and 1 in the 12th to take down the Sox 7-6.

WILD CARD STANDINGS

1. TAMPA BAY RAYS (85-69, 0 GB)
2. CLEVELAND INDIANS (85-70, 0 GB)
3. TEXAS RANGERS (84-70, .5 GB)
4. NEW YORK YANKEES (82-73, 3 GB)
5. KANSAS CITY ROYALS (81-73, 3.5 GB)
6. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (81-73, 3.5 GB)