Maikel’s multiple missiles maul Metroplex men, Royals roll Rangers 6-3

Garcia fell a double shy of the cycle.

Maikel Garcia had a huge night and the pitching righted the ship after a rocky first inning as the Kansas City Royals took down the Texas Rangers 6-3 tonight at Globe Life Field.

After Patrick Corbin breezed through the top of the first inning, Kris Bubic needed just two pitches to find himself in trouble. Sam Haggerty took an elevated sweeper the other way down the right field line. Mark Canha misplayed it in the corner, allowing Haggerty to scoot to third base with a leadoff triple. Wyatt Langford followed by ripping a ball right past Garcia and into left field for a double that gave Texas a 1-0 lead. Bubic managed to get the next two outs, bringing García to the plate. Bubic got ahead 1-2 and then didn’t get the call on two borderline pitches before Adolis García dunked one into center field to score Langford. 2-0 Rangers.

Bubic found himself in trouble again in the second. With one out, he plunked Kyle Higashioka with a breaking ball. Two batters later, Haggerty went down the right field line again to give Texas runners on the corners with two outs. That brought up Langford, but he wouldn’t get to finish his at-bat as Haggerty was gunned down trying to swipe second on a laser of a throw from Freddy Fermin.

After stranding a leadoff walk in the second inning, Kansas City got to Corbin in the third. Freddy Fermin walked before being replaced at first base by Kyle Isbel on a fielder’s choice. With Jonathan India at the plate, Isbel stole second without a throw. India got a sinker down the middle and didn’t miss it, lining it into center to score Isbel. Bobby Witt Jr. followed by ripping a ball past a diving third baseman and into left. India went first to third and nearly came off the bag, but the safe call was upheld upon review. Meanwhile, Witt scooted to second, giving the Royals two runners in scoring position with one out. Garcia chased a couple pitches to fall behind in the count before rocketing a ball into the left field bullpen for a homer that gave Kansas City a 4-2 lead.

Texas answered in the fourth. Josh Jung ripped a ball into the right-center gap for a leadoff double. Jake Burger followed by swinging at the first pitch, inside-outing one down the right field line and trading places with Jung, making the score 4-3. The Rangers would also get an infield single in the inning, but Bubic managed to record the next three outs to keep the score there.

With one out in the sixth, Bubic got ahead 0-2 on Higashioka before eventually walking him. With his pitch count at a season-high 101, he was pulled from the game. It wasn’t his sharpest outing with a season-high nine hits allowed, but he left the game with the Royals in front. John Schreiber came on and retired the next two batters to make Bubic’s line official.

After Lucas Erceg danced into and out of trouble in the seventh, the Royals plated some insurance runs in the eighth. Witt walked on four pitches to lead off the inning and moved up to second when Higashioka let a pitch get past him. Garcia then poked a bouncer that just stayed fair down the first base line, which García misplayed for a triple. After Vinnie Pasquantino lined out, Salvador Perez was intentionally walked. That brought up John Rave, who had pinch hit for Canha earlier in the game. Rave put down a good bunt and Rangers pitcher Hoby Milner crashed in to try to make the play at the plate. He made a nice play with a flip toward the dish, but Higashioka rushed the tag and failed to catch the flip cleanly as Garcia slid safely home. Milner managed to retire the next two hitters, but Kansas City had a 6-3 lead.

A baserunner in the ninth for the Royals would have given Garcia a chance to complete the cycle. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Fortunately, Carlos Estévez had one of his smoother outings in the bottom of the ninth, retiring the side without incident to finish out a 6-3 Royals win.

The win improves Kansas City to 36-38 and gives them the series victory. They will go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon in Arlington.

Kris Bubic: 5.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 HR

Patrick Corbin: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Maikel Garcia: 3-4, HR, 3B, 2 R, 4 RBI

Wyatt Langford: 3-5, 2 2B, R, RBI