Vinnie Pasquantino homered in the first inning and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers.

David Lesky recaps the weekend and appraises the Wild Card race.

Kansas City Royals outfielder Mark Canha returned from an injury-rehabilitation assignment on Monday and was then designated for assignment, the club announced before its series-opening home game against the Texas Rangers. Canha, 36, was recovering from a left-elbow injury. He had been on the injury list since June 8, missing 32 major-league games.

The Chiefs get ready for their preseason finale and the Royals continue a hot streak at home. KCTV Sports Director Marleah Campbell and Gabe Swartz discuss.

Rangers first. Josh Smith grounds out to first base to Vinnie Pasquantino. Wyatt Langford strikes out swinging. Corey Seager homers to center field. Joc Pederson flies out to deep left center

The two-run shot in the eighth inning against Texas on Tuesday night merely padded the lead for Kansas City, which went on to a 5-2 victory. It was the fifth straight win for the Royals, who closed to within 2 1/2 games of an AL wild-card berth and are within nine games of the first-place Tigers in the AL Central.

Seth Lugo bounced back to throw a quality start, and Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino each homered in a 5-2 win over the Rangers Tuesday night. The Royals are four games over .500 for the first time since May 25 when they were 29-25.

When the Rangers arrived in Kansas City on Sunday night, they knew how big of a week it was -- four games at Kauffman Stadium and then another three at home against the Guardians, two of the three tea