Texas @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2010 ) Texas 9, Kansas City 10
The Texas Rangers are trying to win the World Series. Every move they have made this season has been geared toward accomplishing that goal.
On Tuesday, the Rangers acquired right-handed hitter Jeff Francoeur from the New York Mets for infielder Joaquin Arias. Francoeur is the fifth player the Rangers have added since midseason, joining pitcher Cliff Lee and position players Bengie Molina, Cristian Guzman and Jorge Cantu.
Although it’s clear Texas is going all-in this year, it still lost an ugly 10-9 game on Tuesday night to the lowly Kansas City Royals.
The Rangers will try to salvage the series with a victory Wednesday night in the three-game series finale. Texas sends right-hander Tommy Hunter to the hill while Kansas City will counter with right-hander Bryan Bullington.
Hunter has been a pleasant surprise in his first 16 starts, going 11-2 since joining the team on June 5. Hunter has never faced the Royals in his career, but is 4-2 with a 4.46 ERA in seven road starts this year.
In his last start against Oakland on Friday, Hunter went 7 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Hunter has allowed three runs or less in 13 of his 16 starts this season.
The Rangers’ offense came through with nine runs on 16 hits Tuesday night, led by Michael Young’s four hits. Young, David Murphy, Vladimir Guerrero and Mitch Moreland all had home runs for Texas.
But, somewhat surprisingly, that wasn’t enough for Cliff Lee, who has an 8.28 ERA in his last five starts. Lee had his shortest outing of the season, leaving after 4 2/3 innings and allowing seven runs (four earned) on 10 hits.
Bullington, meanwhile, will try and lead the Royals to a second consecutive victory.
The first pick in the 2002 draft, Bullington earned his first major league win on Aug. 15, throwing eight scoreless innings against the New York Yankees.
Bullington hasn’t won since that start, though. In his last outing against the Cleveland Indians on Aug. 27, he lasted only four innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
In four starts this season, Bullington is 1-2 with a 6.26 ERA. He has never faced Texas.
Offensively, the Royals had an impressive showing Tuesday. Even though they won it on a wild pitch in the ninth inning, Kansas City amassed 10 runs on 13 hits.
Mike Aviles, Billy Butler, Wilson Betemit, Alex Gordon and Brayan Pena all had two hits and Yuniesky Betancourt added a solo home run for the Royals.