Rangers Hit 5 HR’s in 8-4 Win Over Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After teeing off on lefty Bruce Chen, the Texas Rangers cruised to an 8-4 Labor Day win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Monday.
Rangers All-Star pitching ace Yu Darvish carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, until the Royals finally got on base with a walk. That walk served as the catalyst for a three-run inning. Third baseman Tony Abreu hit a two-run RBI triple, and Alex Gordon hit an RBI double to cut the deficit to 6-3.
Darvish (14-9, 4.29 ERA) gave up three runs on three hits in 7 innings, striking out six and walking one.
The game started as a home run derby featuring Texas sluggers. Catcher Geovany Soto smashed a three-run home run in the second inning to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead. Josh Hamilton crushed his 38th HR of the year with a solo shot in the third. Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz each hit solo HR’s in the sixth to give Texas a 6-0 lead.
Chen (10-11, 5.28 ERA) earned the loss, giving up six runs on six hits in 6 innings, fanning five and walking one.
Bench clearing fireworks erupted in the ninth after Royals reliever Louis Coleman (4.19 ERA) beamed Cruz. Designated hitter Michael Young answered with a two-run blast to give the Rangers an 8-4 lead. Young stared Coleman down as he rounded first, and he let Royals infielders hear it while rounding the bases.
Jeremy Guthrie (3-3, 3.86 ERA) starts against Rangers All-Star lefty Matt Harrison (15-8, 3.30 ERA) for game two on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
