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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Joe Randa's best big league season is
being followed by a second terrific year.
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| Randa |
Driving in five runs Sunday in a 13-8 victory over Texas, Kansas
City's soft-spoken third baseman broke out of a late-season slump
while nudging his average back to .300 and boosting his RBI total
to a career-best 94.
"I wouldn't say I was physically tired." he said. "It was
more mental. I went into a stretch about two weeks ago where I felt
I had some good at-bats but didn't have a lot to show for it. As a
hitter, when you don't get the hits you lose confidence."
Mark Quinn had two doubles and two RBI as the Royals kept the
Rangers from their first three-game sweep in Kauffman Stadium.
Quinn, a leading candidate for AL Rookie of the Year, hit a
two-run double in a four-run first, then doubled in the sixth and
scored on Randa's two-run single. He appeared to limp home because
of a cramped right hamstring and was replaced in left field.
"It just knotted up and I didn't want to take a chance on it,"
Quinn said. "I don't know what it will do on a three-hour plane
ride tonight (to Seattle)."
Randa's three-run homer in the seventh put the Royals ahead
11-3.
Jeff Suppan (8-9) gave up three runs, nine hits and four walks
in 6 2/3 innings.
Darren Oliver (2-7) lost his career-high fourth straight
decision. He gave up eight runs and nine hits in seven innings.
Oliver, winless in seven starts since beating Detroit on May 31,
has allowed 34 earned runs in his last 31 innings, a 9.87 ERA.
"I'm feeling pretty good," Oliver said. "I just need to
pitch. If I keep feeling the way I feel now, I know there will be
some success. I was keeping my fastball down. But some of my
breaking pitches were up today."
Oliver walked Johnny Damon leading off the first and then Carlos
Febles reached on first baseman Frank Catalanotto's fielding error.
After Mike Sweeney's RBI single, Jermaine Dye doubled home a run
and Quinn followed with a two-run double.
Dave McCarty followed Randa's two-run single in the sixth with a
two-run homer for an 8-3 lead.
Texas scored twice in the third on Luis Alicea's RBI single and
Rusty Greer's infield grounder. Mike Lamb's RBI single made it 4-3
in the sixth.
With two outs and one on in the seventh, Texas shortstop Scott
Sheldon made a double error on Todd Dunwoody's grounder. Randa
connected off Francisco Cordero for his 14th homer.
Dee Brown singled home two runs in the eighth, his first major
league RBI.
Catalanotto hit a grand slam off Andy Larkin in a five-run ninth
that also included Scarborough Greene's RBI single. It was
Catalanotto's first career slam.
Game notes
Every Royals starter scored at least once. ... Randa also
had five RBI last July 25 against Oakland. ... Before winning the
first two games, the Rangers were 0-9-3 in their 12 previous
series. ... Damon, who was 7-for-10 the first two games, went
hitless in three at-bats but scored his league-leading 122nd run.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Texas Clubhouse
Kansas City Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Yankees 6 Boston 2
Chi. White Sox 0 Cleveland 0
Toronto 6 Detroit 2
Kansas City 13 Texas 8
Oakland 11 Tampa Bay 0
Seattle 8 Minnesota 1
Anaheim 2 Baltimore 1
Montreal 4 Atlanta 0
NY Mets 3 Philadelphia 0
Cincinnati 6 Pittsburgh 4
Milwaukee 4 St. Louis 3
Houston 7 Chicago Cubs 6
Los Angeles 12 Colorado 1
Florida 4 Arizona 3
San Francisco 10 San Diego 2
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