Marcus Semien’s three-run homer headlined a five-run sixth inning, which powered the visiting Texas Rangers to a 12-2 rout of the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Semien’s home run — his fourth of the season and third in as many games — capped the scoring in the decisive inning. Robbie Grossman opened the sixth with the first of seven consecutive Rangers hits before Kansas City recorded an out, cutting down Travis Jankowski at the plate after Nathaniel Lowe ripped a single to center.
Sandy Leon drove in Grossman and Ezequiel Duran to start the outburst, the fourth of four straight Texas singles off Carlos Hernandez. Hernandez was pulled after giving up the subsequent Semien blast, finishing his night with five runs on five hits and no outs recorded.
Semien scored again in the eighth inning, when Texas added another four runs — three coming from Adolis Garcia’s home run. Leon scored earlier in the inning thanks to Lowe’s sacrifice fly.
Semien finished the night 2-for-3 and drew a pair of walks. Duran went 2-for-5, and Jankowski went 2-for-4 to improve his batting average to .333.
Josh Jung extended his hitting streak to seven games, going 1-for-4 with a walk. He scored in the fourth inning when Duran drove him in after he had stolen second. The swipe was Jung’s first of the season.
The additional run support from the sixth inning ensured Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi (2-2) the win. Eovaldi went six innings, striking out five and giving up seven hits and two runs.
Kansas City got on the board in the first inning thanks to Bobby Witt Jr.’s leadoff triple and MJ Melendez’s sacrifice fly.
The Royals tried to keep pace after starter Brad Keller (2-2) allowed three runs on three hits and five walks. Michael Massey hit a single in the fourth and scored on Kyle Isbel’s fielder’s choice, but the resulting 3-2 deficit was as close as Kansas City got.
The loss marks the Royals’ eighth in their last nine games.
–Field Level Media
