Overview

The Royals took a trip to Arlington this week for a three-game series against the Rangers. The Royals came into the series with a record of 9-17, and the Rangers had a record of 11-16. The Royals were coming off of three consecutive series losses. 

The Rangers won the series 2-1. The Royals extended their series loss streak to four with another loss to a team toward the bottom of the standings. The Royals fall to 10-19, and the Rangers improve to 13-17. 

Game 1 - Seager’s Two Homers Give Rangers 6-4 Win

Starters: Brad Keller (KC) vs. Martin Perez (TEX)

The Rangers got on the board quickly with an atypical start from Brad Keller. In the bottom of the first, Corey Seager homered, Jonah Heim and Adolis Garcia singled with an error, and Willie Calhoun singled them both home for a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, Seager homered again to make it 4-0, and in the fourth, Nick Solak singled and stole, and Brad Miller singled him home. The Royals got one back in the fifth with a Hunter Dozier double and an MJ Melendez RBI single. However, the Rangers countered in the sixth with a run of their own on a Solak double and eventual score on a wild pitch. The Royals tried to mount a comeback in the seventh when Hunter Dozier and Emmanuel Rivera reached on errors, then Michael A. Taylor and Whit Merrifield each hit an RBI single and Nicky Lopez knocked a runner home on a fielder’s choice. However, they couldn’t complete the comeback, and the Rangers won 6-4.

The Rangers’ Martin Perez had a good outing, going 6.1 innings before getting pulled as the Royals began to try to mount their comeback, and allowed five hits and one earned run, striking out six for the win. Brad Keller had an uncharacteristic somewhat poor performance, pitching 5.2 innings and giving up nine hits and five runs for the loss. Joe Barlow recorded the save, pitching a flawless ninth inning. 

Final: Rangers 6-4 Royals

Most Notable Player: Corey Seager (2-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI, BB)

Game 2 - Royals Even Series, Win Bullpen Game 8-2

Starters: Gabe Speier (KC) vs. Matt Bush (TEX)

The Royals were the first to get on the board in the top of the third when Whit Merrifield hit a solo shot. They added to their lead in the fifth when Michael A. Taylor walked, Merrifield singled, and Bobby Witt, Jr. hit a two-RBI double to make it 3-0. The Rangers finally scored in the sixth on a Brad Miller homer, but the Royals negated it with a run of their own when Merrifield got on via error and a wild pitch, and Witt, Jr. hit him home on a fielder’s choice. The Royals opened up the game in the ninth. Merrifield reached on an infield single, then Nicky Lopez singled, and a double steal made the Rangers intentionally walk Salvador Perez. Emmanuel Rivera then tripled to score all three runners, then scored himself on an error to make it 8-1. The Rangers got one back in the bottom of the ninth on Corey Seager’s third home run in two games, but the game ended 8-2.

Joel Payamps recorded the win in this matchup of the bullpens, tossing 3.0 innings and allowing two hits and no runs. He was one of six Royals pitchers to throw in this game. Kolby Allard was charged with the loss despite pitching three strong innings and allowing two hits and one run. The Rangers also used six pitchers in the game. 

Final: Royals 8-2 Rangers

Most Notable Player: Whit Merrifield (3-4, HR, 4 R)

Game 3 - Hearn Pitches 5 Great Innings, Leads Rangers to 3-1 Win

Starters: Jonathan Heasley (KC) vs. Taylor Hearn (TEX)

The Rangers were the first to tally a run in the bottom of the first when Brad Miller reached on an infield single then came around to score on a Willie Calhoun single. They added to it in the bottom of the seventh when Brad Miller homered to right. The Royals finally got on the board in the eighth as Whit Merrifield and Andrew Benintendi singled, then Salvador Perez hit Merrifield home on an RBI single. However, the Rangers got it right back on an Adolis Garcia triple then wild pitch. The Royals couldn’t mount a comeback in the ninth, and the Rangers won, 3-1.

Taylor Hearn pitched 5.0 stellar innings for the Rangers, giving up only one hit and no runs. John King was the only Rangers pitcher that gave up a run, coming in the eighth inning. Jon Heasley took the loss, going 3.1 innings and allowing four hits and a run. Joe Barlow got his second save of the series, pitching a scoreless, one-hit ninth. 

Final: Rangers 3-1 Royals

Most Notable Player: Brad Miller (2-3, HR, 2 R, BB)

Takeaways

The Royals recorded another series loss against another typically poor team this week. In a seeming “break” in the schedule with series against the Orioles, Rangers, and Rockies, the boys in blue couldn’t improve their record and instead slipped further down the standings. Changes need to happen, whether those changes come within the lineup, or from a change in hitting coach or another higher-up. 

Looking Ahead

The Royals will look to finally notch a series win as they travel to the Mile High city to take on the Rockies in a three-game weekend series. They will continue their long stretch of games, and don’t have a day off until May 25. Zack Greinke will open up the series for the Royals, followed by Carlos Hernandez and Daniel Lynch. The Rockies will utilize Kyle Freeland, then the top of their rotation with German Marquez and Austin Gomber. The Royals will enter the series with a record of 10-19, and the Rockies 16-15.