ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Taylor Hearn allowed only one hit in five scoreless innings, Brad Miller homered and the Texas Rangers defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Thursday night.
The Royals’ first hit literally was off Hearn. Michael A. Taylor sent a liner up the middle off the pitcher’s leg that continued to the left of second base and into left field with two out in the second inning.
Hearn (2-2) walked three and struck out five.
Joe Barlow pitched a scoreless ninth, retiring Whit Merrifield on a grounder with two runners on base, for his sixth save in six opportunities.
Jonathan Heasley (0-1) allowed four hits and four runs in 3 1/3 innings in his first major league appearance this season.
Miller led off the bottom of the first inning with an infield hit against a shift and later scored on a two-out, popup single by Kole Calhoun over third baseman Emmanuel Rivera’s head in short left field.
Miller hit a home run, his fifth, off the right field foul pole in the seventh.
Texas reliever Brock Burke pitched two hitless innings before Kansas City used three consecutive singles to break up the shutout in eighth against John King. Matt Bush relieved King to get the third out, fanning Bobby Witt Jr. with runners at first and second.
Adolis Garcia restored Texas’ two-run lead in the bottom half when he tripled and scored on Josh Staumont’s wild pitch.
HOME COOKING
Heasley was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to take the place of LHP Kris Bubic, who was optioned to Omaha. The 25-year-old Heasley was 1-1 in three starts for the Royals last season.
“It’s an opportunity,” manager Mike Matheny said. “He’s going to be someone that we’re going to watch closely now that he’ll be here to help us. He’s got three plus pitches — changeup and breaking ball are both very good, and his…
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