Justin Maxwell hit a grand slam with two outs in the 10th inning and the Royals beat the Texas Rangers 4-0 Sunday. The Oakland Athletics clinched the AL West with the Rangers’ loss. Texas dropped 1½ games behind Cleveland for the second wild-card spot. The Royals are 3½ back.
Maxwell connected off former Royals All-Star closer Joakim Soria.
Eric Hosmer led off the Royals 10th with a double off Neal Cotts. Soria relieved Cotts and intentionally walked Billy Butler, and gave up an infield single to Salvador Perez to load the bases.
Mike Moustakas popped up and pinch-hitter George Kottaras grounded into a force play at the plate, before Maxwell hit a full-count pitch over the left-field wall for his second career grand slam.
Tim Collins (3-6) worked the 10th to pick up the victory. Royals starter James Shields gave up six hits in eight innings, walking one and striking out two.