DeShields Homers, Rangers Beat Royals 2-1
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KANSAS CITY (AP) — Delino DeShields homered in the seventh to break a tie and the Texas Rangers defeated the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Sunday.
DeShields, who was recalled Thursday from Triple-A Round Rock, walked and doubled before leading off the seventh with his third home run. DeShields hit a 2-1 pitch from Luke Hochevar out to left.
The loss dropped the Royals to 48-49, the first time the World Series champions have been below .500 since May 15 when they were 18-19. The Royals have lost 13 of 19 games in July.
Left-hander Alex Claudio (2-1) picked up the win, pitching a scoreless sixth.
Hochevar (2-3) took the loss and has allowed six runs in 6 1-3 innings in July.
Rangers relievers Claudio, Keone Kela, Jake Diekman and Sam Dyson held the Royals scoreless the final four innings.
Dyson earned his 20th save in 22 opportunities, but not before allowing two singles and taking Paulo Orlando's liner off his right shoulder.
After stranding runners at third base in the third, fourth and fifth innings, the Rangers broke through with a clutch hit in the sixth when Mitch Moreland's two-out single scored Adrian Beltre, who began the inning with a single.
Royals starter Edinson Volquez left after six innings and 91 pitches, allowing one run and seven hits, while walking three and striking out three. It was Volquez's fifth straight start pitching at least six innings and he has a 2.87 ERA in that span.
There were scouts watching Volquez, who is eligible for free agency after this season and could be traded at the deadline.
Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin left after allowing four hits in five innings, including Kendrys Morales' home run in the fourth inning. Morales had three of the Royals' seven hits.
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