Morning Marquee: Kansas City Royals even series with big win

A trio of players – Billy Butler, Omar Infante and Salvador Perez – drove in two runs apiece in Game 2 Wednesday night, leading the Kansas City Royals to a big win as the series shifts out west to San Francisco, now tied at one game each. The San Francisco Giants hung with the Royals for the first five-plus innings, but a six-run sixth proved to be their undoing.

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In order to bring the series back to Kauffman Stadium, Ned Yost‘s club will have to win one of the three weekend games at AT&T Park and the Kansas City skipper has been adamant that James Shields will start for the Royals in Game 5 – despite his poor outing in the series opener.

In other news, the Texas Rangers are working to finalize a coaching staff for the 2015 season, the San Diego Padres dismissed hitting coach Phil Plantier, who had just concluded his third season in that role with the team, and the Giants’ Tim Lincecum, who came on in Game 2 in relief, exited with an injury that does not appear to be too serious, although details remain vague at this point in time.

Here’s more from around the world of Major League Baseball.

“Royals’ bats come alive in 7-2 victory; even series at 1 apiece” – Kings of Kauffman

“Padres release hitting coach Phil Plantier” – Friars on Base

“Giants say success result of love of pressure situations” – Around the Foghorn

“Rangers hope to set coaching staff within the week” – Call to the Pen

“Could Panda be coming to the Cubs in 2015?” – Cubbies Crib