Kyle Higashioka delivered a pivotal three-run double with two outs in the ninth inning, leading the Texas Rangers to a 6-3 victory against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night. This game-winning hit was crucial in the Rangers’ comeback in a tightly contested match played in Kansas City.
Kansas City’s reliever Sam Long began the ninth by retiring two batters but then walked Wyatt Langford. Following an error by Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino that allowed Corey Seager to reach base, Marcus Semien contributed a sharp infield single. Higashioka stepped up and smashed Long’s pitch down the left field line, clearing the bases and igniting the Rangers’ rally.
Pitching Performances Shape the Outcome
After Higashioka’s clutch hit, Hoby Milner closed the game by shutting down the Royals in the bottom of the ninth inning. This victory marked only the Rangers’ third win in their last 13 games and stopped a two-game losing streak in the four-game series. Alongside Semien’s three hits and an RBI, Texas’s bullpen, including Jacob Latz, Shawn Armstrong, and Milner, stifled Kansas City after the early deficit.
For the Royals, rookie Noah Cameron struggled over 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while issuing three walks and striking out five. Despite his efforts, the Royals, who had been riding a five-game winning streak, slipped to a 7-2 record on their current 10-game home stand.
Early Leads and Key Moments During the Game
The Rangers seized an early lead when Wyatt Langford launched a fastball over the left field fence, giving Texas a quick 1-0 advantage. However, the Royals responded swiftly in the opening inning. Caleb Boushley, the Rangers’ starting pitcher, gave up back-to-back singles to Mike Yastrzemski and Bobby Witt Jr., followed by a three-run home run by Pasquantino that landed in the right field fountains, shifting the score to 3-1 in favor of Kansas City.
The Rangers chipped away at the lead, narrowing the gap to one run in the third inning after Langford singled and scored following Semien’s timely two-out base hit. The two teams remained locked in a close contest until the seventh inning when Texas managed to even the score. Jonah Heim doubled and later scored as Seager hit a two-out single to tie the game.
Missed Opportunities and Team Management Notes
Kansas City left nine runners on base during the game, including a critical moment in the seventh inning when they had runners at first and third with only one out. Even after loading the bases with two outs later in the inning, the Royals were unable to push across a run. On the Texas side, manager Bruce Bochy was absent due to personal matters, so bench coach Luis Ureta took charge of the team during the contest.
Impact of the Win and What’s Ahead
This win offers the Rangers a vital boost as they work to improve their record and gain momentum during a challenging stretch of the season. Meanwhile, the Royals’ five-game winning streak came to an end, highlighting areas for improvement despite strong early-game performances. The Rangers aim to build on this clutch hitting and solid bullpen work as they continue their road series and pursue additional victories.