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Greinke, Gordon help Royals crown Rangers

Sep 4, 2007 - 4:30 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Zack Greinke threw five shutout innings and Alex Gordon went 3-for-6 with a career-high four RBI to lead the Kansas City Royals to an 8-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Monday.

Grienke (6-5) allowed five hits but struck out four to notch his first win since returning to the starting rotation. Greinke, who had a three-plus month stint in the bullpen, won for the first time as a starter since April 10.

Greinke has now pitched 12 consecutive scoreless innings.

"I was a little tired the last two innings, but I probably had a couple more bursts in me," Grienke said of his longest starting outing since May 1. "I've been happy with all of my starts so far."

Texas starter Kameron Loe took the loss, lasting only three innings and giving up two runs on five hits. He left the game with right elbow soreness and will be evaluated over the next few days.

"I've been battling with (the elbow) my last couple of starts," Loe said. "It would hurt off and on tonight. I might have to miss another start, but hopefully not. I might just have to push it back a couple of days."

Loe struggled with his control early, walking the first two batters of the game. Two outs later, Loe walked Mark Teahen to load the bases. Gordon followed with a single up the middle to plate DeJesus and Mark Grudzielanek to give the Royals a 2-0 lead.

With Scott Feldman on in relief of Loe to start the fourth inning, the Royals doubled their lead on a bunt single and a stolen base by David DeJesus, followed by an RBI single by Ross Gload. Designated hitter Billy Butler followed with an infield chopper that scored Grudzielanek from third.

Feldman lasted 2 2/3 innings, giving way to John Rheinecker in the top of the sixth.

In the eighth, Gload hammered his seventh home run of the season off of reliever Mike Wood.

"I wouldn't say we're on a hitting tirade. This game's crazy. We almost had a perfect game pitched against us the other night," Gload said. "We're just getting good at-bats right now and guys are getting hits on the strikes they're seeing."

After back-to-back hits by Butler and Teahen, Gordon belted a two-run single to right field.

"It's all about guys getting on in front of you," Gordon said of his career-high four-RBI night.

The Rangers scored their lone run in the bottom of the eighth. After Ian Kinsler tripled off reliever Joel Peralta, Michael Young followed with an RBI single to left.

The victory pulled the Royals (62-75) to within one win of ensuring that they would not suffer their third consecutive 100-loss season.

"That was one of our better games in just about every aspect - defensively, hitting and it all starts with pitching," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "(Greinke) is throwing good. He hasn't given up a run. Maybe we should have done this sooner."