Rangers best debut by a pitcher was recorded today after an outstanding performance by the newly…

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer retired 15 of 16 batters he faced over five shutout innings in his season debut, and rookie Wyatt Langford extended his RBI streak to five games as the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-0, on Sunday, completing a three-game sweep of the series.

Jose Ureña pitched the final four innings to earn his first save, extending the Rangers’ consecutive scoreless innings streak to a season-high 22, their longest streak since going 23 consecutive innings in September 2016. Josh Smith homered for the Rangers (37-40), who tied their season-best record with their fourth straight win.

It was the reigning World Series champions’ first three-game winning streak of the season. The Royals finished the away tour in just 2 hours and 7 minutes, but their overall record was 42 hours and 37 minutes, 20 more wins than they had at this time last season. They were shut out for the fourth time this season, including three on the trip that ended with being held scoreless the last two games in Texas.

Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro missed the series finale to tend to a personal manner, so bench coach Paul Hoover managed the game. Texas went ahead for good on Langford’s RBI double in the fourth off Alec Marsh (5-5). Langford had a grand slam in Saturday’s 6-0 win and has 10 RBIs in the last five games. Leody Taveras was 5 for 58 in June before his two-run single later in the fourth, and Josh Smith homered leading off the seventh.

Scherzer (1-0) struck out four, allowed only one hit and has now walked. The right-hander threw 39 of his 57 pitches for strikes in his first start since leaving Game 3 of the World Series after three innings on Oct. 30 due to back pain. His fastball was consistently in the 92-94 mph range. The 39-year-old pitcher, who turns 40 on July 27, underwent surgery in mid-December to repair a herniated disk in his lower back and has since recovered during rehab.

He was treated for a nerve problem that was diagnosed after he felt pain in his right thumb. MJ Melendez got the Royals’ only hit against Scherzer, a ground-rule double that bounced off the Texas bullpen in the gap between right and center field.

Scherzer’s fourth and final strikeout was 3,371, tying him with Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux for 11th on the MLB career list. Maddux, a four-time Cy Young Award winner, is the brother of Texas pitching coach Mike Maddux. Marsh struck out four in 5 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs.