C.J. All The Way - 4-1

Behind C.J. Wilson's (above) complete-game gem and another home-run and a couple of RBI from Vladimir Guerrero, the Rangers have clinched at least a split of the four-game series with the Royals. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

After Thursday's home-run bonanza, it was nice to see a Rangers' pitcher lock-in and dominate like starter C.J. Wilson did Friday night.

"Once I got through the sixth with a low pitch count, I wanted to finish it off," Wilson said. "Once I got into the eighth, I just clicked it into another gear and went into closer-mode."

The former set-up man/closer pitched the first complete game of his career, allowing only one run on five hits and striking out four. Wilson mixed his pitches well, enabling him to go the distance and save a tired bullpen.

"I know what it's like to be in the bullpen and have to throw all the time," Wilson said. "I know those guys needed a day off after yesterday."

Vladimir Guerrero kept his hot streak alive, knocking a solo-shot over the left field wall on the first pitch he saw. At that point, Guerrero had hit three home-runs in his last three plate appearances - and three long bombs in the span of four pitches. Vlad knocked in another run on a sacrifice fly in the third inning, scoring Elvis Andrus and giving Texas a 3-1 lead. For the game, he went 2 for 3 with two RBI. Guerrero leads the team in both batting average (.349) and RBI (25) for the season.

"I don't think about anything when I go to the plate," Guerrero said. "I just see the pitch and make a good cut."

The Texas Rangers (16-14) looked more like the team they have shown flashes of at times this season, with strong starting pitching and some clutch hitting. 15 hits and 13 runs is nice, but I'll take nine hits, four runs, and a 4-1 win any day of the week. This was a nice win over a Kansas City Royals (11-19) team that featured their ace starter Zach Greinke - one of the best pitchers in baseball. But it seems Texas has an ace of their own in Wilson, who is now third in the American League with an ERA at 1.51.

"We got some runs up there and C.J. did the rest," Manager Ron Washington said. "You let those kind of guys (like Greinke) get the lead, they usually know how to take it to the finish line.

"But tonight, C.J. took it to the finish line."

The third-game of the four-game series between these two teams is tomorrow night at 7:05.

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)