Nathaniel Lowe collected four hits and drove in two runs as the visiting Texas Rangers blasted the Kansas City Royals 15-4 Saturday evening.
Adolis Garcia’s first-inning sacrifice fly put the Rangers ahead 1-0.
In the third, Lowe singled and scored ahead of Evan Carter’s two-out, two-run triple. Carter scored on a wild pitch for a 4-0 lead.
Lowe’s third hit, a bases-loaded single to center, plated two in a three-run fourth, driving Michael Wacha from the mound after 3 2/3 innings.
Texas ripped Wacha (1-4) for nine hits while building a 7-0 lead. Seven runs allowed are the most by a Kansas City starter since Cole Ragans also surrendered seven on April 20. Wacha walked one and struck out three.
Lowe led off the seventh with his fourth hit and scored on Travis Jankowski’s RBI grounder as the Rangers put the game out of reach with three runs in the frame. It was Lowe’s fifth career game of four or more hits and first this season.
Josh Smith’s RBI triple highlighted a five-run ninth to cap Texas’ highest scoring output so far and the most scored against Kansas City this season. The Rangers recorded a season-high 17 hits.
Texas starter Dane Dunning retired the first nine batters in order before Maikel Garcia’s leadoff single in the fourth. He needed just 49 pitches while facing the minimum through four innings.
The Royals collected two runs on three hits in the fifth, knocking Dunning out of the game. He allowed four hits and a walk while striking out four in 4 2/3 innings.
The first of four Rangers relievers, Josh Sborz (1-0) allowed a run on two hits and a walk while recording three outs for the victory.
Salvador Perez struck out twice in four at-bats, ending his career-best 22-game on-base streak.
