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TAKE YOUR BASE — Texas' Marlon Byrd (left) is given first base by umpire Paul Emmel (right) after being hit by a pitch during the seventh inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City on Wednesday. Texas won, 3-2, and swept the Royals, but the Rangers are still 66-68, way back from the Los Angeles Angels in the American League West Division, and not among the top contenders in the AL wild-card race.