Rangers 8, Royals 2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers starter Colby Lewis was effective once again and third baseman Adrian Beltre homered in the Rangers' 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night at Globe Life Park.
The Rangers, coming off a 5-2 road trip, opened their seven-game homestand with a rare home win. Texas (14-18) entered the four-game series with baseball's worst record at home. The win improved the Rangers' home record to 4-9.
The American League Central-leading Royals (20-12) lost for only the second time in 12 series openers this season. Kansas City, playing its first game outside the Central division in more than three weeks, also had its modest two-game winning streak snapped.
Lewis improved to 3-2 this season and to 2-4 lifetime against Kansas City by limiting the best hitting team in the majors to one run on three hits over seven innings, while striking out five.
The Rangers had nine hits, including Beltre's two-run blast and the first career home run by second baseman Tommy Field in the seventh.
The Rangers chased wild Kansas City starter Danny Duffy in the fourth after Beltre drilled his two-run home run to right for a 6-1 lead. It was the fourth homer of the season for Beltre and 399th of his career, tying him for 52nd on the all-time list.
The Rangers jumped ahead 4-0 in the second by taking advantage of control problems by Duffy, who walked four in the inning.
Three straight walks loaded the bases with no outs. With Duffy needing to throw a strike with a full count, Rangers left fielder Delino DeShields lined a belt-high fastball into the left-field corner to drive in two runs.
It didn't get any better from there for Duffy. A wild pitch and right fielder Shin-Soo Choo's single up the middle led to two more runs before Duffy could register an out.
Duffy ended up throwing 48 pitches in the second. He exited after 3 2/3 innings, and he was charged with six runs on five hits and six walks with four strikeouts.
The Royals got their first hit -- shortstop Alcides Escobar's leadoff bloop single -- and first run off Lewis in the fourth.
Escobar came around to score on designated hitter Kendrys Morales' line drive to center, but center fielder Leonys Martin snuffed the rally by throwing out third baseman Mike Moustakas at home to end the inning.
NOTES: Before the game, the Rangers purchased the contract of INF Thomas Field from Triple-A Round Rock and optioned 2B Rougned Odor to Round Rock. Field, 28, got the start at second base. He was batting .298 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in 28 games in Triple-A this season. Odor hit .144 with one home run and nine RBIs in 29 games for Texas. ... Kansas City technically already picked up a win Monday after beating the Detroit Tigers in the wee morning hours in an extra-innings game that included a rain delay. ... Royals 3B Mike Moustakas returned from the three-day bereavement list and hit second in the order. INF Orlando Calixte was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to clear a spot for Moustakas.