11 April 2023
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Andrew Heaney tied an AL record by striking out nine consecutive batters, Adolis Garcia’s sixth-inning grand slam was one of three Texas home runs and the Rangers routed the Kansas City Royals 11-2 on Monday night.
Heaney (1-1) began the streak by fanning Matt Duffy and Nicky Lopez to end the first inning, then struck out the side in the second and third innings. After Salvador Perez went down swinging leading off the fourth inning, Matt Duffy ended the streak with a flyout to right field.
Heaney threw 93 pitches and left after five innings, allowing two runs – one earned – on two hits. That after he allowed seven runs and recorded only eight outs last Tuesday in his Texas debut.
“I felt like I owed it to the guys, owed it to the fans, to myself to be better than what I was,” said Heaney, who signed as a free agent in December.
After three of the first four batters reached and resulted in an unearned run, he said, “It all just kind of like started just going. It sort of evolved.”
Heaney matched a record shared by Detroit reliever Tyler Alexander against Cincinnati on Aug. 2, 2020, and Detroit reliever Doug Fister against Kansas City on Sept. 27, 2012.
The major league record for consecutive strikeouts is 10, set by the New York Mets’ Tom Seaver on April 22, 1970, and matched by the Philadelphia Phillies’ Aaron Nola on June 25, 2021, and the Milwaukee Brewers’ Corbin Burnes on Aug. 11, 2021.
“He’s got an interesting delivery,” said first-year Royals manager Matt Quatraro, who returned to action after missing the team’s previous five games with COVID-19. “Low slot, carry guy, so the ball had that rising appearance to it, and it’s tough to lay off. He did a good job, to his credit, pitching at the top of the zone or just above.”
Garcia’s slam capped a seven-run sixth inning and snapped his 0-for-16 slump.
Corey Seager and Jonah Heim also homered off Royals right-hander Zack Greinke (0-3). Greinke gave up four runs, three earned, in five innings.
Hunter Dozier homered for Kansas City in the seventh inning.
Seager had three hits, two off Grienke. Seager is 10 for 24 with four homers off the 2009 AL Cy Young winner.
DESPERATE TIMES
Major League Baseball has new rules this season that limit the use of position players as pitchers. But Kansas City qualified in the eighth inning, and Quatroro sent right fielder Nate Eaton to the mound for his first pitching appearance since he was VMI’s closer in 2018.
SMALL WORLD
Former New York Yankees star Ron Guidry had nine straight outs that were strikeouts against the Rangers on May 10, 1986. The Rangers’ starter that game was Bobby Witt, father of the Royals’ current shortstop.
SHORT HOPS
Nolan Ryan held Texas’ record of strikeouts against seven straight batters, against California on July 7, 1991. … Bruce Bochy moved into 11th place in career managerial wins with 2,009. … Greinke is 0-11 in his last 18 road starts since beating the Los Angeles Angels for the Houston Astros on Aug. 13, 2021.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: LHP Daniel Lynch (rotator cuff strain) is scheduled to throw a bullpen in Arizona on Tuesday.
Rangers: C Mitch Garver (left knee sprain) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sunday with C Sandy Leon selected from Triple-A Round Rock to replace him. UP NEXT
Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (1-0, 5.59 ERA) will make a third consecutive home start to begin his Texas career, having taken a perfect game into the fifth inning of his win over Baltimore last Wednesday. Royals RHP Jordan Lyles (0-2, 4.91) went 11-19 as a Ranger 2020-21.