Gebäudetypen » Steve Pearce performed well

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- If this was the last swing of the season at Kauffman Stadium, it was one to savour. Justin Maxwell ended the Kansas City Royals home season with a two-out grand slam in the 10th inning Sunday for a 4-0 win over the Texas Rangers in a matchup of AL playoff contenders. "I kind of blacked out after I looked at Gordo (Alex Gordon) over there going crazy," Maxwell said. "I just saw the excitement in all my teammates eyes. I couldnt wait to get around the bases and to home plate." The Oakland Athletics clinched the AL West with the Rangers loss. Texas dropped 1 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the second wild-card spot. Kansas City is 3 1/2 back. Maxwell connected off former Royals All-Star closer Joakim Soria. "Ive never faced him before," Maxwell said. "With a 3-2 count, bases loaded, two out, I was just looking for a fastball strike and I got one. I didnt try to do really do too much. Paralysis by analysis. I try to dumb it down and try to hit the ball hard." Soria knew he couldnt afford to throw a borderline pitch and have the winning run score on a walk. "I had to throw a strike in that situation, and it couldnt be close," Soria said. Royals starter James Shields gave up six hits in eight innings, walking one and striking out two. Texas starter Alexi Ogando pitched two-hit ball for seven innings, striking out five and walking one. Eric Hosmer led off the Royals 10th by punching a double with two strikes down the left-field line off Neal Cotts (5-3). Soria relieved and intentionally walked Billy Butler, and an infield single by Salvador Perez loaded the bases. Mike Moustakas popped up and pinch-hitter George Kottaras grounded into a force play at the plate before Maxwells grand slam. Tim Collins (3-6) worked a perfect 10th to pick up the victory. Ogando, who had three stints on the disabled list this season, excelled in just his eighth start since May 15. He left after 77 pitches. "I thought overall it went very well," Ogando said through a translator. "I was really able to locate my pitches and able to throw them for strikes. You know whats going to happen if you can throw strikes where you want and be able to be aggressive with your pitches." Maxwell hit a leadoff single in the third and moved up on a sacrifice, making him the lone Royals runner to get past first base off Ogando. Shields, who was 4-1 in his previous five starts, lowered his ERA to 3.21. He was struck in the right elbow by David Murphys liner in the second, but remained in the game after making some warmup tosses as manager Ned Yost watched from the mound. "You can probably see the big bump in my elbow," Shields said. "I had a hard time feeling the baseball the whole rest of the game. Its just one of those games, one of those moments where I wasnt coming out of the game. I told Skip I wasnt hurting. I wasnt necessarily feeling good, but I felt fine to go back out. It was kind of tightening up between every inning. "Ogando pitched his heart out and it was just fortunate we got the win. The fans were unbelievable. It was electric in the stadium as Ive ever seen it. They were into every single pitch," he said. Shields allowed two-out singles to Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus before getting out of the inning. Royals closer Greg Holland took over in the ninth. Alex Rios made it to first when he struck out on a wild pitch to lead off the inning and stole second. But Rios was thrown out trying to take third on Adrian Beltres fly to left, with Gordon getting his AL-leading 16th outfield assist. "Rios was trying to make something happen, which you cant blame him," Gordon said. "I was just trying to make the play, keep the score zero-zero and help Greg out. Alex Rios is a long strider, very fast, so I had to make a good throw. Thats what I planned to do. I didnt do much all day, but that was key." Perez helped out Shields by throwing would-be basestealers Andrus at third base in the first and Leonys Martin at second in the fifth. "Stealing third is easier than stealing second for me," Andrus said. "He throws well. I took my chances. That kid Perez is amazing. Its pretty tough the way they play defence. You have to tip your cap." NOTES: The Royals final home attendance was 1,750,754, an average of 21,614 for 81 games. The Royals averaged 21,748 for 80 home dates last year. ... The Rangers play their final seven games at home. LHP Derek Holland, who starts Monday against Houston, has lost five straight decisions at Rangers Ballpark since May 31. He is winless in his past eight starts, the longest drought of his career. ... The Royals, who finish up with seven games at Seattle and Chicago, are 38-36 on the road. They have not finished above .500 on the road since going 43-39 in 2003. Jamie Langenbrunner Jersey . 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"I think to get the best opportunity for this to heal properly we need to let it quiet down completely," manager Buck Showalter said. "Youre getting treatment all day then its, Hold on a second to take some swings in the cage. I got to get ready for the game." Showalter added: "Originally, they felt the best case scenario was a two- or three-week period where he wasnt throwing. I think this gives us the best opportunity for this thing to manage itself." Wieters is batting .308 with five homers and 18 RBIs, but he has thrown out only one of 12 would-be base stealers. "Its not like some acute pain. Its just that he knows its not like it should be to catch at the major league levvel," Showalter said.dddddddddddd "A lot of catchers would die to be able to make the throws Matt has made so far this year." Davis led the majors last year with 53 home runs and 138 RBIs. This season he has two homers and 13 RBIs in 22 games. He went on the DL on April 27, retroactive to April 26, after being pulled from a game against Kansas City. His rehabilitation assignment lasted only one game -- a 1 for 4 outing Saturday night for Class A Bowie. "Hes doing some things now he wasnt able to do that three or four day period he was trying to play through it," Showalter said. "That was good to hear from him." Steve Pearce performed well at first base and at the plate, but Davis lobbied to return Sunday and got his wish. "Steve Pearce is no stranger to success," Davis said. "Hes been big for us the last couple of years and hes done a great job. But Im tired of seeing him hit home runs." Astros manager Bo Porter was hoping Davis might remain on the DL at least another day, through the end the three-game series that concluded Sunday. "I thought he was going to stay down in Bowie," Porter joked. "We might just walk him four times. No, hes a good player. But you make quality pitches you have a good chance of getting him out. Im sure theyre excited to have him back." ' ' '