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May 31, 2011

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Rangers rally in 9th to ride past Royals

ELVIS Andrus stroked a game-winning RBI single with two outs to complete a ninth-inning comeback in the Texas Rangers' 7-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

The Royals had taken a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth where Alcides Escobar hit a sacrifice-fly RBI, but Texas' Nelson Cruz tied the score with a solo home run in the bottom half against losing relief pitcher Joakim Soria.

Mike Napoli, who went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, singled in the ninth and sped around all the way from first base, sliding under the tag of catcher Brayan Pena to score the winning run.

"I thought they might hold me (at third)," Napoli told reporters. "But when they tell me to go, I go. I was caught in-between (when the ball got to the plate), and I had to do something there. I was going to try to kick it out of his glove. I thought that was my best chance."

Kansas City (23-29) looked to be heading toward winning form when it scored five times in the fourth to claim a 5-2 lead, aided by a three-run blast from Pena.

Climbed back

However, the American League West-leading Rangers (28-25) climbed back with a run in the fifth and a two-run homer in the eighth from Michael Young to even the game at 5-5.

Texas' surprising second-year pitcher Alexi Ogando was aiming for his sixth win against no losses this season, but he took the no-decision after allowing five runs in six innings.

Arthur Rhodes got the win after he came on for the final out in the ninth as the Royals had a man on base.

In St. Petersburg, Jeremy Hellickson pitched seven scoreless innings to steer the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-0 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Elsewhere, it was: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3, first game; Tigers 3, Red Sox 0, second game; Yankees 7, Mariners 1; Blue Jays 13, White Sox 4; Athletics 6, Orioles 4; and Angels 6, Twins 5.

In the National League, the New York Mets enjoyed a rare offensive outburst in a 9-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Also, it was: Brewers 6, Giants 0; Padres 5, Nationals 4; Diamondbacks 4, Astros 2; Cardinals 4, Rockies 3; Dodgers 8, Marlins 0; Cubs 3, Pirates 2; and Braves 2, Reds 1.





 

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