ARLINGTON, Texas – Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced in five scoreless innings in his season debut, rookie Wyatt Langford extended his RBI streak to five games and the Texas Rangers won the Kansas City Royals 4-0 on Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep.
“It was a lot of fun to get back out there and compete,” said Scherzer, who retired the first 13 Royals in his first start for Texas since Game 3 of last fall’s World Series.
José Ureña pitched the final four innings for his first save and extended the Rangers’ consecutive scoreless inning streak to a season-high 22, the longest since 23 in September 2016. Ureña and Scherzer combined to throw 99 pitches in the seventh team shutout this season, and for the second time in consecutive games.
Josh Smith was honored by the Rangers (37-40), who tied their season high by winning their fourth straight game. It was the first three-game sweep of the season for the defending World Series champions.
The Royals finished a 2-7 road trip, although at 42-37 overall, they have 20 more wins than at the same point last season. They were eliminated for the fourth time this season, three on the road trip that ended scoreless in the last two games at Texas.
Kansas City coach Matt Quatraro missed the series finale to handle a personal one, so bench coach Paul Hoover managed the game.
Texas went ahead for good on Langford’s RBI double in the fourth against Alec Marsh (5-5). Langford had a grand slam in Saturday’s 6-0 win and has 10 RBIs in the last five games. Leody Taveras was 5-for-58 in June before his two-run single in the bottom of the fourth, and Smith singled in the top of the seventh.
Scherzer (1-0) struck out four, allowing just one hit and no walks. The right-hander threw 39 of his 57 pitches for strikes in his first start since leaving that World Series game on Oct. 30 after three innings because of back tightness. He left after five innings Sunday after a conversation with manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Mike Maddux.
“Everything from a baseball standpoint was telling me to get back out there. You know, I’m pitching well, I’m throwing the ball well,” Scherzer said. “I just don’t know how I’m going to recover from this. … I was feeling a little tired in my forearm.”
Scherzer, 39, who will turn 40 on July 27, underwent surgery in mid-December to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. Then, during his rehabilitation, he dealt with a nerve problem that was diagnosed and still bothers him after experiencing pain in his right thumb.
MJ Melendez was the only Royal to reach base against Scherzer, with a double in the fifth.
“He just competes,” Hoover said of Scherzer. “He keeps hitters off balance, strikes early but nibbles late. He’s been doing this for a long time and he showed it today.”
Scherzer’s fourth and final strikeout was the 3,371st of his career, tying Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux for 11th place on the MLB career list. Maddux, a four-time Cy Young winner, is the brother of Texas’ pitching coach.
Marsh struck out four, allowing three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: Adam Frazier has been eliminated from the starting lineup because of a right thumb sprain suffered playing in the outfield on Saturday. He was initially set to lead off as the designated hitter for the series finale.
Rangers: RHP Yerry Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to make room on the active roster for Scherzer.
NEXT
Royals: After nine road games in 10 days, the Royals play the first of 10 home games over 11 days on Monday night against Miami, with LHP Cole Ragans (4-5, 3.13 ERA) set to start.
Rangers: Michael Lorenzen (4-3, 3.00) is the starting lineup Monday night when the Rangers play their first game in Milwaukee since 2019.
