Live Updates: Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers (Game Three)

Royals try to avoid the sweep in Arlington amidst continued struggles.

Jun 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Angel Zerpa (61) throws a pitch in the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. / © Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday, the Kansas City Royals will face the Texas Rangers in the third game of their series at Globe Life Field. The Royals, now holding a 42-36 record, aim to avoid a series sweep after dropping the first two games to the Rangers.

Alec Marsh (RHP) will take the mound for the Royals. Marsh has a 5-4 record with a 4.25 ERA and 68 strikeouts this season. He'll be looking to deliver a strong performance and help Kansas City get back on track after a brutal stretch of games.

For the Rangers, Max Scherzer (RHP) will be making his first start of the season. Scherzer, a seasoned veteran with an impressive career, is making his first appearance of the season. His presence on the mound adds an element of intrigue to the matchup.

Fans can catch the game on Bally Sports Southwest and Bally Sports Kansas City.

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How It Happened...

Ninth Inning:

• With the Texas Rangers holding a 4-0 lead, José Ureña came in to close out the game for the Rangers. Facing the Kansas City Royals' hitters, Ureña quickly got Maikel Garcia to fly out to center fielder Leody Taveras for the first out. Dairon Blanco followed with a groundout to shortstop Corey Seager, who made a strong throw to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the second out. The game then ended on a groundout by Nick Loftin, who hit a grounder to third baseman Ezequiel Duran, who fired to first to secure the out and the win for the Rangers. FINAL: Rangers 4, Royals 0.

Eighth Inning:

• The Royals continued to struggle to score runs as they faced a 4-0 deficit against the Rangers. MJ Melendez started the inning with a groundout to pitcher José Ureña, who threw to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the out. With one out, Hunter Renfroe drew a walk, putting him on first base. Nelson Velázquez then grounded into a double play, shortstop Corey Seager to second baseman Marcus Semien to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, to end the inning.

• The Rangers were unable to add to their lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Andrew Knizner started the inning with a flyout to right fielder Hunter Renfroe in foul territory for the first out. Leody Taveras followed with a flyout to left fielder MJ Melendez, also in foul territory, for the second out. Marcus Semien then flew out to Melendez in left field for the third out, ending the inning.

Seventh Inning:

• The Royals' seventh inning began with Bobby Witt Jr. grounding out to third baseman Ezequiel Duran, who made a strong throw to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the out. With one out, Vinnie Pasquantino stepped up to bat and lined out to center fielder Leody Taveras for the second out. Salvador Perez followed with a groundout to third baseman Ezequiel Duran, who threw to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the final out of the inning.

• Josh Smith led off the inning with a solo home run, extending the Rangers' lead to 4-0. Adolis García followed with a groundout to pitcher Sam Long, who threw to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino for the out. With one out, Nathaniel Lowe hit a single to left field, putting him on first base. Wyatt Langford then flew out to left fielder MJ Melendez for the second out. Ezequiel Duran grounded into a force out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to second baseman Nick Loftin, to end the inning. Rangers 4, Royals 0.

Sixth Inning:

• In the top of the sixth, Maikel Garcia led off with a single on a fly ball to center fielder Leody Taveras. Nick Loftin followed with a groundout to shortstop Corey Seager, who threw to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the out. Dairon Blanco then struck out swinging, but on the same play, Maikel Garcia was caught stealing second base, ending the inning with a strikeout double play.

• The Rangers' sixth inning began with Ezequiel Duran popping out to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino in foul territory for the first out. Andrew Knizner followed with a strikeout, caught looking for the second out. Leody Taveras then singled on a line drive to left field, but the inning ended with Corey Seager flying out sharply to center fielder Dairon Blanco, leaving Taveras stranded on base.

Fifth Inning:

• The Royals' fifth inning started with Salvador Perez flying out to center fielder Leody Taveras for the first out. Hunter Renfroe followed with a strikeout swinging, recording the second out. MJ Melendez then hit a ground-rule double to right-center field, putting himself in scoring position with two outs. Nelson Velázquez ended the inning with a groundout to second baseman Marcus Semien, who threw to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the out, leaving Melendez stranded on second base.

• The Rangers' fifth inning began with Corey Seager singling on a line drive to right field, advancing Adolis García to second base. Josh Smith followed with a pop out to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino for the first out. Adolis García then singled on a line drive to left field, loading the bases for Texas. Nathaniel Lowe stepped up and lined out to second baseman Nick Loftin for the second out, keeping the bases loaded. Wyatt Langford ended the inning with a flyout to right fielder Hunter Renfroe, stranding three Rangers runners on base.

Fourth Inning:

• The Royals' fourth inning started with Nick Loftin grounding out to shortstop Corey Seager, who threw to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the out. Bobby Witt Jr. then popped out to Lowe for the second out. Vinnie Pasquantino ended the inning with a flyout to left fielder Wyatt Langford, closing the inning without any runs scored for Kansas City once again.

• The Rangers' offense began with Adolis García walking, putting a runner on base. Nathaniel Lowe followed with a single on a ground ball to third baseman Maikel Garcia, advancing García to second base. Wyatt Langford then doubled on a line drive to center field, driving in Adolis García and advancing Nathaniel Lowe to third base. Leody Taveras continued the onslaught with a two-run single to left field, scoring Lowe and Langford. The inning continued with Andrew Knizner popping out to second baseman Nick Loftin for the second out. Ezequiel Duran then grounded out to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., ending the inning with the Rangers scoring three runs and leaving Leody Taveras stranded on first base. Rangers 3, Royals 0.

Third Inning:

• The Royals' third inning began with Nelson Velázquez grounding out to third baseman Ezequiel Duran, who threw to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe for the out. Maikel Garcia then lined out sharply to right fielder Adolis García. Dairon Blanco ended the inning with a strikeout swinging.

• The Rangers' half of the third inning started with Marcus Semien flying out to right fielder Hunter Renfroe for the first out. Leody Taveras then reached first base on a fielding error by first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Corey Seager followed with a flyout to Renfroe, advancing Taveras to third base. Taveras then advanced to second on a wild pitch by pitcher Alec Marsh. However, Josh Smith flew out to center fielder Blanco, ending the inning.

Second Inning:

• The Royals' second inning began with Salvador Perez flying out to right fielder Adolis García. MJ Melendez followed by striking out on a foul tip, adding another out for Kansas City. Hunter Renfroe then popped out to catcher Andrew Knizner, ending the inning without any baserunners or runs for the Royals.

• The Rangers' half of the second inning started with Nathaniel Lowe grounding out to second baseman Nick Loftin, who threw to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino for the out. Wyatt Langford also grounded out to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., with Pasquantino making the play at first. Ezequiel Duran then walked, giving the Rangers a baserunner. However, Alec Marsh struck out Andrew Knizner swinging, leaving Duran stranded and ending the inning without any runs for Texas.

First Inning:

• The Royals' first inning began with Nick Loftin grounding out to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. Bobby Witt Jr. then struck out swinging, giving Max Scherzer his first strikeout of the season. Vinnie Pasquantino ended the inning by popping out to third baseman Ezequiel Duran, closing the inning without any runs for Kansas City.

• The Rangers started strong with Marcus Semien popping out to catcher Salvador Perez in foul territory for the first out. Corey Seager then doubled on a sharp line drive to right fielder Hunter Renfroe, giving Texas a scoring opportunity. However, Josh Smith was called out on strikes, followed by Adolis García also being called out on strikes, leaving Seager stranded on second base and ending the inning scoreless for the Rangers.

Pregame:

• Starting Lineups:

Alec Marsh takes the mound as we wrap up our road trip. pic.twitter.com/lim5aqp2sy

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 23, 2024

• First pitch is slated 1:37 p.m. CT