The Royals gave away a 2-0 lead and eventually lost to the Rangers 5-4 on Thursday in Kansas City. Facing Kenny Rogers, Matt Diaz put them up 1-0 in the second inning, with a single to score Angel Berroa. In the third, it was Terrence Long who struck with an RBI single, sending Denny Hocking home.
The Rangers rallied for four runs off Royals’ starter J.P. Howell in the fourth inning. Hank Blalock drove in Alfonso Soriano with a double for Texas’ first run Then Rod Barajas hit his 15th home run of the year, a three-run shot, to make it 4-2.
Joe McEwing got Kansas City to within a run in the fifth inning with a run-scoring single. It stayed 4-3 until Barajas struck again with another home run. His 16th of the season came with the bases empty and upped Texas’ lead to 5-4.
Angel Berroa’s RBI single in the eighth once again cut the Rangers lead to one run, but it proved to be enough.
Howell (1-5) lasted six innings and was charged with four of the five runs that were scored on his watch. Rogers (12-7) finished seven innings and got his first win since July 16.