
Bobby Witt Jr. tripled in front of the hometown crowd, then really turned on the speed with two stolen bases to start a four-run inning for Kansas City.
The son of former Texas pitcher Bobby Witt helped the Royals to season highs in runs and hits as they avoided a three-game sweep with a 10-1 rout of the Rangers on Wednesday night.
The RBI triple was among three hits for the younger Witt, and his three steals overall were a career high as the Royals ended a three-game losing streak.
MJ Melendez drove in three runs to back another strong outing from Brad Keller, Vinnie Pasquantino homered and the Royals had three consecutive run-scoring singles – the last of their 14 hits – in the four-run seventh after coming in with .190 team batting average while scoring 2.8 runs per game.
Witt led off the seventh with a single and stole second and third before Franmil Reyes’ RBI single. Edward Olivares drove in another, and Michael Massey brought home two off reliever Taylor Hearn.
Keller (2-1) didn’t allow a run after giving up Nathaniel Lowe’s first-inning homer, leaving after his two-out walk in the seventh ended a streak of 10 consecutive batters retired.
The right-hander, who gave up three hits and struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings, has half of Kansas City’s four victories without allowing more than two runs in any of his three starts.