Rangers Stay on Track; Beat Royals 2-1

Sidney Ponson got his first victory in a year and the Texas Rangers finished off a successful homestand with Ron Washington still their manager, beating the Kansas City Royals 2-1 last night. Ian Kinsler hit a leadoff homer in the first and Ramon Vazquez hit a tiebreaking drive in the sixth off Zack Greinke (3-1). The Rangers took two-of-three from Kansas City.

Ponson (1-0) went eight innings in his second start for the Rangers, benefiting from two double plays and picking off a runner to face the minimum three batters in the fourth through seventh innings. The 31-year-old right-hander struck out five and walked two while throwing 76 of his 108 pitches for strikes. C.J. Wilson worked a perfect ninth for his sixth save. (More MLB stories.)