No recap from me – too busy at work to write.
ST8: Mar 9, 2006 vs. Royals (L: 12-4)
4-3-1 (.571) – 6th – 1.5 Dn – Streak L1
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News Coverage
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Texas Rangers/MLB.Com News Coverage: #1 | #2
Photos
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Game Recap
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Paul Bako is happy just to be playing again.
Bako homered twice and had four RBIs Thursday in the Kansas City Royals’ 10-4 win over a Texas Rangers’ split squad.
The career .239 hitter, best known as the longtime personal catcher for Greg Maddux, missed all but 13 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season because of a knee injury.
“It was just one of those days for the home runs,” Bako said. “The best part was feeling like a player again instead of a rehab patient.”
Bako’s three-run homer in the second inning, his first of spring training, helped the Royals open a 4-0 lead. Kevin Mench made it 4-1 in the bottom half, with his third home run of the spring.
Bako added a solo shot as the Royals scored five runs in the fourth. Doug Mientkiewicz, who went 3-for-3, added a two-run single in the inning.
Phil Nevin hit his fourth homer of spring training for Texas, a three-run drive.
Royals starter Scott Elarton gave up one earned run and two hits in four innings for the win. In his first outing, he allowed five earned runs in three innings.
“Mench’s hit would have been a home run in any park, but for the most part I felt really good out there today,” Elarton said. “I don’t really care how hard they hit them at this point, as long as they stay in the park. Most of them anyway.”
Loser Adam Eaton gave up four earned runs in three innings. The left-hander, acquired from San Diego during the offseason, allowed four straight hits in the second, including Bako’s three-run homer.
“Adam pitched well all considered,” Texas manager Buck Showalter said. “He just let a few pitches get away.”
Notes
Texas closer Francisco Cordero and LHP C.J. Wilson pitched in simulated games Thursday for the Rangers. Cordero threw to seven batters over 2 1-3 innings. Wilson struck out three of six batters.
Box Score
CAC FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - KANSAS CITY 0 4 0 5 2 1 0 0 0 12 16 1 TEXAS 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 8 0 FINAL
WP - SCOTT ELARTON (2-0) LP - ADAM EATON (0-1)
HOME RUNS: KAN - PAUL BAKO (1) OFF ADAM EATON IN THE 2ND PAUL BAKO (2) OFF FABIO CASTRO IN THE 4TH TEX - KEVIN MENCH (3) OFF SCOTT ELARTON IN THE 2ND PHIL NEVIN (4) OFF MIKE WOOD IN THE 6TH
TIME: 2:27 ATT: 2,149
KANSAS CITY (12) AT TEXAS (4)
KANSAS CITY AB R H BI TEXAS AB R H BI D DeJesus cf 6 1 2 1 B Wilkerson cf 3 0 1 0 M Grudzielanek 2b 4 0 0 0 K Mahar cf 1 0 1 0 M Sweeney dh 3 1 2 2 D Dellucci lf 3 0 0 0 E German 2b 1 0 0 0 H Blalock 3b 2 0 1 0 C Richard dh 2 0 0 0 A Fox 3b 1 1 0 0 A Sanchez rf 2 1 0 0 P Nevin 1b 3 1 1 3 M Maier rf 1 1 0 0 T Olson 2b 1 0 0 0 D Mientkiewicz 1b 4 1 4 3 L Nix dh 4 0 0 0 J McEwing 1b 1 0 1 0 K Mench rf 3 1 2 1 A Berroa ss 4 1 1 0 S Murphy rf 1 0 0 0 W Valdez ss 1 0 0 0 D Jimenez ss 3 0 1 0 M Teahen 3b 3 1 1 1 D Meyer ss 1 0 0 0 A Gordon 3b 1 0 1 0 M Derosa 2b 3 0 0 0 P Bako c 2 2 2 4 N Gold 1b 1 0 0 0 M Tupman c 2 1 0 0 G Laird c 3 0 1 0 K Robinson lf 3 2 2 1 M Nickeas c 1 0 0 0 C Ambres lf 2 0 0 0 L Grayson lf 1 1 0 0 TOTALS 42 12 16 12 TOTALS 35 4 8 4
KANSAS CITY 040 521 000 -- 12 TEXAS 010 003 000 -- 4
E--M Wood. DP--KANSAS CITY 1, TEXAS 1. LOB--KANSAS CITY 7, TEXAS 5. 2B--D Mientkiewicz 3, J McEwing, M Sweeney, B Wilkerson, K Mahar. 3B--K Robinson. HR--P Bako 2 (2) (off A Eaton, F Castro), P Nevin 1 (4) (off M Wood), K Mench 1 (3) (off S Elarton).
IP H R ER BB SO HR KANSAS CITY S Elarton (W,2-0) 4 3 1 1 1 2 1 M Wood 4 5 3 2 0 4 1 S Stemle 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 TEXAS A Eaton (L,0-1) 3 6 4 4 0 2 1 F Castro 2-3 4 5 5 1 1 1 R Bauer 2 1-3 4 3 3 3 0 0 J Carlson 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 J Silva 1 1 0 0 0 3 0
SO--KAN: K Robinson, D DeJesus, C Ambres, A Sanchez, M Teahen, M Tupman. TEX: L Nix 2, D Dellucci, P Nevin, T Olson, S Murphy, M Nickeas. BB--KAN: A Sanchez 2, P Bako, A Gordon. TEX: H Blalock. T--2:27. A--2,149.
With the homers by Nevin and Mench Today the Rangers have hit 2 or more in 6 of 8 spring games. As a team the Rangers have hit 16 homers. Nevin and Mench are the only ones that have more than 1 homer. Maybe some of the other ones that have one homer should hit another soon.