KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Justin Maxwell crushed a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning Sunday and the Kansas City Royals handed playoff-contending Texas a stinging 4-0 loss.
The two teams had battled through 9 1/2 scoreless innings before Eric Hosmer greeted Neal Cotts (5-3) in the bottom of the 10th with a leadoff double.
Former Royal Joakim Soria entered and intentionally walked Billy Butler, and Salvador Perez followed with a single to load the bases with none out.
Mike Moustakas was retired on a pop-out and George Kottaras forced a runner at home on a grounder, but Maxwell then bashed a pitch 430 feet to left field for his mammoth, game-winning grand slam.
Tim Collins (3-6) got the win for the Royals, who took the rubber match of a three-game series and pulled to within 3 1/2 games of a American League wild-card spot with Texas ahead of them.
The Rangers, meanwhile, fell 1 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the second AL wild-card spot.
