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Thursday, Sep. 14 8:05pm ET
Rookie Davis shines in Rangers' 8-1 victory | |||||
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GAME LOG
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Doug Davis knows there's at least one spot available in next year's Texas Rangers' starting rotation, and the rookie left-hander wants to clinch it down now. Davis took another step in that direction, allowing three hits in 7 1/3 innings, and Rafael Palmeiro hit his 36th homer of the season, leading the Rangers over the Kansas City Royals, 8-1, Thursday night. "In my mind, I think I've already got it," said Davis, who's won three of his last four decisions. "I've got to finish the year strong, then go in and work hard in spring training. But I've got to be positive. I think I've got it." Davis (7-5) walked four in the first three innings, five in all, but none turned into runs. He retired 12 straight before a one-out walk in the eighth to Johnny Damon, his final hitter. Davis, who allowed the fewest hits of his 11 major league starts, said he recovered from early wildness by simply slowing down his pitching mechanics. "I was rushing everything and that left the ball up," Davis said. "Nobody had to tell me. I knew what I was doing wrong and corrected it. I started getting the ball down and getting some ground balls. Every time out I learn more and more." Texas' defense turned three double plays and didn't commit an error, and Tim Crabtree pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for his second save in eight opportunities. "It's the same old thing -- pitch well and play decent defense, you're going to win some ball games," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. Palmeiro's homer, which tied the score in the first, was his 397th, moving him past Joe Carter and into 34th on the career list, one behind Dale Murphy. Palmeiro wants to reach 400 homers before the end of the season, but he said "it's just a number." "Yeah, I'm getting a little excited about it," Palmeiro said. "I'd like to get it done. But if I don't, there's always next year. I'm not going to worry about it." Texas broke the game open in the eighth on two-run homers by Chad Curtis and Gabe Kapler off reliever Paul Spoljaric. It was Curtis' second career pinch-hit homer. Mac Suzuki (8-10) allowed four runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He matched his career high with eight strikeouts and walked six. Suzuki's inability to get ahead in the count proved his undoing. "He pitched behind pretty much all game," Royals manager Tony Muser said. "He battled. He got behind, threw a lot of pitches. He's just not efficient right now. Walks put a lot of pressure on the pitcher and on the defense." Kansas City's offense is also struggling, scoring four runs in the last three games. "We had the bases loaded twice tonight and didn't score," Muser said. "You get a couple there and you start to feel good about yourself. Our bats were slow. Nobody is crisp." Carlos Beltran's sacrifice fly put Kansas City ahead in the first after Rey Sanchez and Mike Sweeney singled, and Jermaine Dye walked. After Palmerio's homer tied it, the Rangers went ahead in the third. Luis Alicea doubled, Palmeiro was intentionally walked with one out, and Kapler walked to load the bases. Suzuki then walked rookie Pedro Valdes on a 3-2 pitch, forcing in the go-ahead run. Frank Catalanotto reached first on second baseman Carlos Febles' fielding error in the seventh and Palmeiro walked. Kapler singled in a run off Suzuki, and pinch-hitter Ruben Sierra singled in a run off Scott Mullen. Game notesX-rays showed Texas C Ivan Rodriguez's broken right thumb is healing on schedule. Rodriguez will have the split removed from the thumb and he has been cleared to begin range-of-motion exercises. Rodriguez sustained the season-ending injury on July 24. ... The Royals fell to 14-26 against the AL West this season ... Suzuki's has had eight strikeouts five times in his career. ... Texas has an AL-high four pinch homers this season. ... Palmeiro has 1,334 career RBI, moving past Duke Snider for 57th on the career list. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Kansas City Clubhouse Texas Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 7 Cleveland 4
Texas 8
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