Missed Chances Haunt Royals

The Royals had their chances, but didn’t take advantage of them in a 3-2 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday. The pitching staff held the Rangers—who lead the majors with a .315 team batting average—to just three runs. But in the ninth inning, the Royals had runners at first and third with no outs and the bases loaded with one out, but couldn’t get the crucial hit to win the game. Jeremy Affeldt was handed the loss, despite a decent performance—he allowed three runs off nine hits and two walks. R.A. Dickey improved to three and one, holding the Royals to four hits over six and 1/3’s innings… Mike Sweeney returned for the first time in a week after battling a sore wrist. He grounded out as a pinch hitter….. Right-handed pitcher Kevin Appier will miss 4-6 weeks with a strained muscle in his forearm. Darrell May will miss his start on Thursday with a muscle strain in his left leg.