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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Gabe Kapler has proven that he was more
than just a 28-game wonder for the Texas Rangers.
Kapler was 2-for-4 and drove in three runs, giving him 13 RBI
in the four-game series, as Texas beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5
Sunday.
In 29 games since his 28-game hitting streak -- the longest in
the majors this season -- Kapler is hitting .336 (39-for-116),
raising his season average to .304. He has 47 RBI in the last 57
games, and 65 overall.
"What I am seeing and have seen for this last half-year is very
impressive, very impressive," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said.
"Definitely, he is seeing the ball well now. He's very confident.
You certainly play a whole lot better when you play confident."
Kapler hit a two-run homer, his 14th, in the first after Frank
Catalanotto's solo home run and Rafael Palmeiro's single. Kapler
added an RBI single in the fifth after Palmeiro tripled.
"The last couple of months have been what I would call pretty
consistent, but there have been some highs and lows to it," Kapler
said. "It's about improving, and I feel like I've improved. That
was my goal at the beginning of the season."
Kapler came to the Rangers in the nine-player deal last fall
that sent two-time AL MVP Juan Gonzalez to Detroit, where he hit .245 with 18 homers as a rookie last season.
Kenny Rogers (13-13) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven
innings to win his second straight start after going 0-4 in a
six-start span. John Wetteland got two outs for his 34th save in 42
chances.
"I feel good about winning the last couple of games, I feel
like I've pitched pretty well," Rogers said.
Texas added to its 3-1 lead with two runs in the fifth.
Catalanotto singled and scored on a triple by Palmeiro, who scored
on Kapler's single.
"Kapler killed us. He has brought a lot of good things to the
Rangers and is a good asset to that team," Kansas City manager
Tony Muser said.
Ricky Ledee's single chased Dan Reichert (8-8), who gave up five
runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings. He was trying to become the
first Kansas City pitcher to get nine wins, but has now lost two
straight starts after winning five straight decisions.
Paul Spoljaric got out of the inning when Chad Curtis lined into
a double play and Mike Lamb grounded out.
Carlos Beltran homered leading off the seventh, his first since
June 29. Beltran was activated from the disabled list Sept. 4 after
missing two months with a bone bruise on his right knee. He had 22
homers in 1999, when he was the AL Rookie of the Year.
Joe Randa had an RBI single in the sixth that pulled Kansas City
to 5-2.
Randy Knorr led off the bottom half with his first major league
homer since Sept. 14, 1998, when he was with Florida.
Beltran added an RBI single as Kansas City made it close with
three runs in the eighth off Jeff Zimmerman. Mike Sweeney had an
RBI double and scored on an errant pickoff throw by Zimmerman
earlier in the inning.
Game notes
Texas played its first home day game since June 7. ...
Despite the loss, the Royals have 69 wins, which is already five
more than they had last season. ... Palmeiro hit his third triple,
the most he has had since 1992 when he had four. His career high
was six in 1990. ... Texas won the season series 7-3. ... Rogers
pitched through the seventh inning for the 21st time in 32 starts
this season. ... The Rangers missed a chance for another run in the
third when Ledee fell down running between second and third. Had he
not fallen, he would have scored easily on Pedro Valdes' double to
the wall. Instead, he was stranded at third when Lamb grounded out.
... Randa has a 10-game hitting streak, hitting .465 (20-for-43).
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Baseball Scoreboard
Kansas City Clubhouse
Texas Clubhouse
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Detroit 5
Boston 4
Cleveland 15
NY Yankees 4
Oakland 0
Tampa Bay 0
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Toronto 14
Chi. White Sox 1
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Houston 5
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