C.J. Wilson took a one-hitter into the eighth inning before settling with a two-hitter over 7 2/3 innings, and the Rangers' struggling offense plated a three runs off Kyle Davies to beat Kansas City 3-0 on Wednesday.
Wilson allowed only an infield single to Willie Bloomquist in the second and a one-out single in the eighth to Jai Miller. Wilson was at 110 pitches when he was lifted for Darren O'Day, who retired pinch-hitter Alex Gordon to end the eighth as Mitch Moreland made a terrific diving grab on a line drive.
Bloomquist's hit with two outs in the second bounced off Moreland's glove and stood as an iffy way to spoil a no-hit bid until Miller dumped a hit into center field.
Neftali Feliz recorded his 33rd save, four shy of the single-season big-league rookie record, after pitching around a leadoff single in ninth, and Wilson improved to 14-5 with a 2.88 ERA. He is 7-0 with a 1.99 ERA since the All-Star break.
The Rangers' runs came in the second on a Bengie Molina single that plated Nelson Cruz, who started the inning with a double; an Elvis Andrus single in the fifth that plated Andres Blanco, who had started the inning with a triple; and a Michael Young sacrifice fly that scored Blanco, who singled with one out and was 3 for 4.
Wilson struck out six but walked four. He was in trouble only once, in the second when Kansas City loaded the bases with one out. Miller, the No. 9 hitter, was ahead in the count 3-1 but took two straight strikes to end the threat. That was the last time the Royals had a runner get past first base.
After the Bloomquist single, Wilson retired 15 of 17 hitters, and one of those was erased on a double play.
-- Jeff Wilson


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