|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Rey Sanchez is finally getting noticed,
and not because he is the best fielding shortstop in the major
leagues.
| |  | |
| Sanchez |
Sanchez extended his career-best hitting streak to 18 games with
four hits Thursday as the Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers
8-2.
"He's never noticed until he puts something together
offensively," Royals manager Tony Muser said. "With him every
day, he probably means two to three runs defensively a game for us.
He may not drive them in, but he saves them."
During his hitting streak, the longest ever by a Kansas City
shortstop and the longest current streak in the majors, Sanchez is
batting .372 (29-for-78). He is in his 10th major league season,
the third in Kansas City.
"It's been fun. I just get to go out there, do it for the team
and not worry about what happens," Sanchez said. "When you are
seeing the ball, hitting the ball well, you just feel better."
In addition to his hitting streak, Sanchez has made only one
error in 272 fielding chances (.996 fielding percentage). He leads
the majors in total chances, assists (188) and double plays (50).
Blake Stein (2-4) earned his first win in 1 1/2 months despite
throwing 51 balls and 49 strikes. He allowed two runs and three
hits in five-plus innings, and overcame six walks to win for the
first time since April 15 at Toronto.
The Royals trailed 1-0 in the fifth when, after Sanchez singled
to put runners as first and third, Mike Sweeney, Jermaine Dye and
Joe Randa had consecutive RBI-singles against Doug Davis (2-5).
After Randa was intentionally walked in the seventh to load the
bases with one out, Dave McCarty hit a two-run double to make it
5-2. Dee Brown then greeted reliever J.D. Smart, Texas' third
pitcher, with another two-run double.
Sanchez led off the eighth with a double – his other hits were
singles – and scored on a single by Dye.
The Royals had 15 hits a day after they had 19 in an 11-2 win
over the Rangers.
"To get our bats going, it's 50-something games into the
season, it's about time we start doing that," said Sweeney, who
had three hits. "Right now we are hitting, hopefully that will
equate into wins and hopefully will be contagious and something
that sticks with us for a while."
Stein, who had been 0-2 in three starts and had made four relief
appearances since his last win, struck out four and walked six. He
left after Alex Rodriguez led off the sixth with a double and
Rafael Palmeiro walked.
"The bullpen made me more aggressive," Stein said. "Coming
out today, I took that same attitude, leave everything you have on
the mound, not really trying to pace myself and get as many outs as
I can."
Gabe Kapler hit a sacrifice fly off reliever Kris Wilson to make
it 3-2, but the Rangers never got closer. Wilson, recalled from
Triple-A Omaha just two days earlier, pitched the final four
innings and struck out four for his first major league save.
Davis, recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma to make the start, gave
up three runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings. He left after
Randa's RBI-single, the fifth hit he allowed to the six batters he
faced in the fifth.
"I've struggled up here, but I do fine down there. I'm
frustrated and it's something I have to figure out," said Davis,
who was 2-0 in two Triple-A starts but has lost four straight in
the majors. "I can't figure it out down there because I'm not
having problems down there."
Mark Petkovsek got Dave McCarty to ground into a double play to
end the fifth inning.
Game notes
Kansas City was 10-18 in May. The Royals are 20-33,
matching their worst record ever after 53 games. ... The Rangers
finished May 8-19, their most losses in a month since August 1997.
... Rodriguez had a throwing error in the seventh inning. The Texas
shortstop has nine errors in 52 games this season. He committed
just 10 in 148 games for Seattle last season. ... Kapler's
nine-game hitting streak was snapped.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
| |
OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
Kansas City Clubhouse
Texas Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 8
Texas 2
Oakland 10
Tampa Bay 1
Boston 11
Toronto 5
Detroit 0
Chi. White Sox 0
Anaheim 5
Minnesota 4
Seattle 2
Baltimore 1
Houston 8
San Diego 4
Florida 5
NY Mets 3
Philadelphia 5
Montreal 2
Milwaukee 6
St. Louis 2
|
