With a new general manager in town, Royals players might be feeling a little job insecurity. If so, they sure did respond well beating the Rangers 16-12 Thursday.
Trailing 11-4, Kansas City got a sudden jolt on offense. All of a sudden, their bats became as hot as the 90-degree weather at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals actually had a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The Rangers quickly nullified that deficit with three runs in the second and eight in the third. Normally, Kansas City would fold and graciously accept defeat. Not with a new boss in town.
Instead, the worse team in baseball rattled off four runs in the third to cut the lead to 11-8. They added runs in the fourth and fifth, but the true explosion came in the seventh. David DeJesus had an RBI single that drove in Mark Teahen. Doug Mientkiewicz added more for the Royals with a two-run double. Designated hitter Matt Stairs trumped everyone with a three-run homer to cap a six-run inning.
Every starter had a hit and scored a run. Mark Grudzielanek was the only starter who did not score a run. DeJesus also homered in the game. His solo shot in the fifth brought the Royals within one. DeJesus went 3-for-5 with four RBIs in the game.
Mietkiewicz and Stairs each had three RBIs. Third baseman Mark Teahen went 4-for-4.
Kansas City used six different pitchers. Rookie Kyle Snyder made his first start in the majors and found out just how tough it can be. His debut only lasted two innings. Snyder gave up nine runs – five earned – on 10 hits including a home run to Ian Kinsler.
Jimmy Gobble, the fourth pitcher used, got credit for the win. He surrendered one run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings.
The Royals broke a franchise tying nine-game home losing streak. They’re 15-43 though, which is still the worst record in baseball.
