Texas Rangers vs Kansas City Royals major league american baseball review and live streaming links with radio commentry May 18, 2011. The Kansas City Royals' surprising start seems like an afterthought following four straight losses that have dropped the team below .500 for the first time all season. Looking for a boost, they'll turn to rookie left-hander Danny Duffy, whose major league debut has been anticipated for quite some time.
Struggling Kansas City begins a two-game series Wednesday night against the visiting Texas Rangers, who will counter with surprising young right-hander Alexi Ogando.
The Royals (20-21) fell 7-3 on Tuesday against Cleveland, which also beat them 19-1 to tie a franchise record for margin of defeat Monday. Kansas City has scored five runs total during its four-game skid and has plated three runs or less in its last 10 losses. The Royals have lost 17 of 27 since starting the season 10-4.
8:10 PM ET, May 18, 2011
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Duffy (3-1, 3.00 ERA in seven starts at Triple-A Omaha) is rated as one of Kansas City's top prospects. He took a leave of absence from the organization March 24, 2010, to handle unspecified personal issues, and at one point Duffy believed he would never play again.
He returned two months later and has thrived in the minor leagues since, earning him Wednesday start.
"The thing that he has in his favor is he has 'out' pitches," general manager Dayton Moore told the team's official website. "He has a great changeup, a hard overhand curveball, a fastball that he throws up to 96 miles an hour. So it gives him a chance to compete and gives him an edge."
Duffy likely will need that edge matching up with Ogando, who continues to impress for the Rangers (22-20).
Ogando (4-0, 2.06 ERA) went 6 1/3 innings Friday, allowing one run for the third time in four starts in a 4-1 victory against the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander has allowed one or less run in five of his seven starts this season.
"I felt great because all my pitches were working and I was able to place them wherever I wanted," Ogando said through a translator after Friday's performance. "Physically, I felt strong, so it was fine."
Ogando has not taken the loss as a starter or reliever since July 17, 2010 -- a stretch of 37 appearances. He beat the Royals 3-1 on April 23, allowing one run and five hits through six innings. That victory was part of Texas' three-game sweep against Kansas City from April 22-24.
The Rangers have won four of six despite falling 4-3 to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Reliever Cody Eppley's wild pitch in the eighth inning allowed the winning run to score after Texas had taken a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning.
Michael Young, who went 6 for 14 (.429) with three RBIs in the previous series against the Royals, said the loss was a minor blip in an otherwise successful stretch.
"(Tuesday) we just didn't get the big knock," Young said. "It's all right, we've been doing it the last week or so. We'll be all right."
The Rangers have played without reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton since April 12 as he recovers from a broken bone in his upper right arm. He is scheduled to play two rehab games at Double-A Frisco starting Wednesday, then three with Triple-A Round Rock.
Struggling Kansas City begins a two-game series Wednesday night against the visiting Texas Rangers, who will counter with surprising young right-hander Alexi Ogando.
The Royals (20-21) fell 7-3 on Tuesday against Cleveland, which also beat them 19-1 to tie a franchise record for margin of defeat Monday. Kansas City has scored five runs total during its four-game skid and has plated three runs or less in its last 10 losses. The Royals have lost 17 of 27 since starting the season 10-4.
8:10 PM ET, May 18, 2011
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Preview: Rangers at Royals"We need to pitch better, we need to hit better in clutch situations," manager Ned Yost said. "We need to just play better baseball than we did in this last series. You've got to be better than you opposition, and for the last four nights, we haven't been. We have to find a way to be."
Current Conditions - Kansas City
P/SUNNY 58 °F
Wind: ESE 9
5-Day Forecast
GAME: Texas Rangers (22-20) at Kansas City Royals (20-21)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 18 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Duffy (3-1, 3.00 ERA in seven starts at Triple-A Omaha) is rated as one of Kansas City's top prospects. He took a leave of absence from the organization March 24, 2010, to handle unspecified personal issues, and at one point Duffy believed he would never play again.
He returned two months later and has thrived in the minor leagues since, earning him Wednesday start.
"The thing that he has in his favor is he has 'out' pitches," general manager Dayton Moore told the team's official website. "He has a great changeup, a hard overhand curveball, a fastball that he throws up to 96 miles an hour. So it gives him a chance to compete and gives him an edge."
Duffy likely will need that edge matching up with Ogando, who continues to impress for the Rangers (22-20).
Ogando (4-0, 2.06 ERA) went 6 1/3 innings Friday, allowing one run for the third time in four starts in a 4-1 victory against the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander has allowed one or less run in five of his seven starts this season.
"I felt great because all my pitches were working and I was able to place them wherever I wanted," Ogando said through a translator after Friday's performance. "Physically, I felt strong, so it was fine."
Ogando has not taken the loss as a starter or reliever since July 17, 2010 -- a stretch of 37 appearances. He beat the Royals 3-1 on April 23, allowing one run and five hits through six innings. That victory was part of Texas' three-game sweep against Kansas City from April 22-24.
The Rangers have won four of six despite falling 4-3 to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Reliever Cody Eppley's wild pitch in the eighth inning allowed the winning run to score after Texas had taken a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning.
Michael Young, who went 6 for 14 (.429) with three RBIs in the previous series against the Royals, said the loss was a minor blip in an otherwise successful stretch.
"(Tuesday) we just didn't get the big knock," Young said. "It's all right, we've been doing it the last week or so. We'll be all right."
The Rangers have played without reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton since April 12 as he recovers from a broken bone in his upper right arm. He is scheduled to play two rehab games at Double-A Frisco starting Wednesday, then three with Triple-A Round Rock.