The Rangers got swatted in the second match of their three-game series against the visiting Royals on May 11 by an 8-2 tally, dropping Texas’ record to 12-17 on the season.
“That’s one you have to flush,” Rangers Manager Chris Woodward told The Dallas Morning News after the loss, “and we have to get back to the drawing board and play better than that.”
The Rangers found themselves down early and did not manage to score until fairly late in the game. In the bottom of the sixth, Brad Miller hit his fourth home run of the season for the Rangers to cut the Texas deficit to 3-1, but that was as close as the game would get.
In the field, the Rangers committed four errors, and at the plate were 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position. Corey Seager, Nathanial Lowe, Dennis Santana, and Miller were each charged with errors in the contest, which led to two unearned runs for the visiting Royals on their way to victory.
“You play like that, you’re not going to win many games,” Woodward said, “and hopefully, we don’t play like that very often.”
Seager hit his third home run in two games in the bottom of the ninth, bringing the score to 8-2.
Texas used six pitchers on the night, but only one, Kolby Allard, could last more than two innings. Allard pitched three innings, allowing one earned run on two hits while walking one and striking out one. He earned the loss in the contest, dropping his record to 0-2 on the season and lowering his ERA to 5.40.
Matt Bush got his first start of the season and pitched only the first inning, allowing no hits or runs and fanning one batter. Bush was followed out of the pen by Allard, and then Allard was relieved by Garrett Richards, who earned just one out while giving up two hits, two earned runs, and striking out one.
Brett Martin pitched 1.2 innings and struck out three, followed out of the bullpen by Santana, who allowed one earned run in one inning pitch. Matt Moore finished the game for the Rangers in the top of the ninth inning and allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits while fanning one and walking one.
At the plate, the Rangers were limited to six hits (6-for-31, a batting average of .194).
The Rangers and Royals mix it up again on May 12 at 7:05 p.m. at Globe Life Field. Following the Royals, Texas will host Boston for a three-game set before welcoming Anaheim for the Angels’ second visit to Arlington this season.