Rangers top Royals in 10 innings, pad division lead

Kansas City, MO, United States (4E Sports) – The Rangers extended their division lead Friday night when Michael Young singled home Ian Kinsler with the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning, as Texas defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-4 Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.

It hiked Texas’ AL West lead to 5 1-2 games over idle Oakland.

The Rangers rallied from an early 3-0 deficit, with Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre hitting back-to-back homers in the fourth.

Hamilton drove in a two-run blast to right field after a single from Young before Beltre followed with a home run to center, his 30th of the season, that knotted the score at 3-3. Hamilton has 39 home runs, the most in the Major Leagues.

The Royals made it a tied affair at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh when Eric Hosmer smacked a home run to left center field off left-hander Michael Kirkman, who had just relieved Texas starter Scott Feldman.

Kinsler then opened the Rangers’ 10th inning with a triple off closer Greg Holland (6-4) before Young connected on his second hit of the game, lining a single back through the middle to score Kinsler and shatter a 4-4 deadlock.

Mike Adams (4-3) allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth to pick up the win, and Joe Nathan pitched a clean frame to earn his 30th save in 31 tries.

It was the sixth straight series won by the Rangers (82-55), who took three of four from the Royals to move to 5-2 on their current road trip.

The Rangers are 5-4 against the Royals this season.

Rangers will next face Tampa Bay Friday night with lefty Derek Holland (10-6) getting the start for Texas.

Also Friday, the Royals will open a six-game trip against the White Sox. Kansas City swept the White Sox in a three-game set last month at Kauffman Stadium.

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