• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Royals, Rangers meet in rubber match

May 1, 2008 - 12:20 PM Kansas City (12-15) at Texas (10-18) 2:05 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) - The Kansas City Royals and their resurgent offense visit the Texas Rangers on Thursday in the rubber match of a three-game series.

The most offensively-challenged team in the American League, the Royals had no problems scoring runs in the first two games of the series. Unfortunately, Wednesday's nine-run outburst came during an 11-9 setback.

The loss comes one day after Kansas City posted a 9-5 victory. The nine runs in each contest marks just the third and fourth times this season the Royals have managed more than five in a contest.

It is no surprise that Kansas City had success against the Rangers, who own a 5.48 team ERA as the worst pitching staff in the majors.

But it was Texas putting on an offensive display on Wednesday, pounding Brian Bannister for seven runs in three innings. Milton Bradley homered and Josh Hamilton hit a grand slam to push his major league-leading RBI total to 32.

Zack Greinke (3-0, 1.25 ERA) will try to slow the Rangers' bats in the rubber match Thursday. The 24-year-old righthander has been stellar so far this season, ranking second in the AL in ERA while surrendering two or less earned runs in each of his five starts.

Greinke has not had the support of the Royals bats of late, not factoring in the decision in either of his last two starts despite allowing a total of three earned runs in 12 frames.

Texas will counter with Sidney Ponson (0-0, 1.69), who will be making his second start after being recalled from Class AAA Oklahoma for a start on Saturday.