The Kansas City Royals have been swept again—for the seventh time this season, to be exact. They lost to the Rangers 8-1 on Thursday as the two starting pitchers saw their seasons continue to move in opposite directions.
Royals’ pitcher Jose Lima allowed a total of eight runs—six of which were the result of home runs—to fall to 0-4. Lima was yanked in the fifth inning after serving up a solo homer to Mark Teixeira which made it 8-1. His ERA is now 8.13.
Meanwhile, Texas starter Kenny Rogers allowed one run off five hits and to improve to 6-2. His American League-leading ERA dropped to 1.69.
Kansas City held a brief lead in the first inning when Emil Brown drove in David DeJesus with a sacrifice fly. Laynce Nix tied the game in the second inning with a double to score Kevin Mench. Richard Hidalgo followed up with a single to bring in Nix and the Rangers took the lead.
Alfonso Soriano hit a three-run homer off Lima in the third inning, Hidalgo went deep with a two-run home run in the fourth and Teixeira hit a solo shot in the fifth.
Reliever Steve Stemle made his major league debut for the Royals and pitched three perfect innings in the fifth, sixth and seventh.
Former Astros, Mets and A’s manager Art Howe interviewed for the Royals job Thursday. Former White Sox manager Jerry Manuel will interview Friday.
