ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Danny Duffy pitched eight innings of one-hit ball and had a franchise-record 16 strikeouts to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 3-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.

Duffy flirted with the Royals’ first no-hitter in nearly 25 years before giving up a line-drive double to Desmond Jennings leading off the Tampa Bay eighth.

Jennings came off the disabled list Monday after missing all of July with a strained hamstring.

Kendrys Morales’ 18th home run, a towering shot over the center field wall off Rays starter Chris Archer (5-15), got the Royals on the scoreboard in the seventh.

Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth for his second save.

Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain drove in runs in the eighth for the Royals, who won for only the second time in 10 games.

Duffy, a 27-year-old left-hander who spent the first six weeks of the season in the bullpen, walked one. He struck out seven in his first trip through the Rays’ lineup, and did not allow a baserunner until walking Logan Forsythe to lead off the fourth.

Zach Greinke had set the Royals’ single-game strikeout record at 15 on Aug. 25, 2009.

Archer gave up three runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings, striking out six to raise his AL-leading total to 161. Tampa Bay snapped a four-game win streak.

RAYS AT THE TRADE DEADLINE

The last-place Rays traded LHP Matt Moore, OF Brandon Guyer and INF/OF Steve Pearce — all to teams that were in first place — on Monday. “We wish we were in that position,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Wish we didn’t have to do that but we’ve got to do what’s right for the organization today and moving forward.”

ROYALS AT THE TRADE DEADLINE

The World Series champions, coming off their worst month (7-19) in four years, did nothing at the deadline. “It’s good that we kept the group together. Everybody’s happy about that,” manager Ned Yost said. “(General manager) Dayton (Moore) looked at some things, but at the end of the day there wasn’t anything that’s going to make us better. He wanted to stick with this group. He believes in this group.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Wade Davis rejoined the team to rehab his flexor strain. Davis and the Royals are hopeful he will be able to come off the disabled list when he becomes eligible Aug. 12.

Rays: Jennings was 4 for 15 in four games with Class-A Charlotte, where he was rehabbing a strained left hamstring. … RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) threw another bullpen session.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura will follow his first career complete game, a 3-2 loss at Texas on Thursday, in his 21st start of the season Tuesday night. He has lost five straight decisions.

Rays: RHP Matt Andriese, back in the rotation with the trade of Matt Moore, will make his first start since June 10.

— Associated Press —

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mitch Moreland and Lucas Harrell helped the Texas Rangers get another big win as they pull away again in the American League West.

Moreland homered for the fifth time in his last five starts and Harrell won in his Texas debut as the Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 to finish a sweep of the four-game series.

After having their 10-game division lead shrink to 2 1/2 games last Wednesday, the Rangers have pushed the advantage back up to six games.

Harrell (3-2) gave up three runs and four hits — including solo home runs to Eric Hosmer and Drew Butera — in six innings. The 31-year-old right-hander was acquired from Atlanta last Wednesday to help the Rangers’ injury-riddled starting rotation. Sam Dyson earned his 22nd save.

“More than anything else, what we saw this weekend is when we get quality starts . we have an opportunity to utilize our bullpen the way we need to,” Texas manager Jeff Banister said.

The Rangers received quality starts in three of the four series games. They received quality starts in only three of their previous 21 games in July.

Harrell was the eighth Rangers pitcher to make a start in July. Colby Lewis and Derek Holland missed the entire month on the disabled list, and Yu Darvish returned from the DL on July 16.

“This team’s already on a roll,” Harrell said. “My job is to come in and get people out and keep us in the game.”

Kansas City hit just 2 for 25 with runners in scoring position during the series. The defending World Series champions went 7-19 in July, their worst month since recording the same record in July 2012.

“We take probably the last couple of weeks and try to forget that,” Eric Hosmer said. “Times are just rough.”

Moreland’s two-run homer was his 18th this season, the last five coming within 16 at-bats. Nomar Mazara also homered against the Royals, who have allowed an AL-high 141 homers this season.

Since Prince Fielder was lost for the balance of the season to another neck injury, Moreland has hit .366 with six homers. In the series, Moreland hit .615 with four homers.

“I’m trying to go up there and have good at-bats,” Moreland said. “It definitely worked out well for me this series.”

Dillon Gee (3-5) gave up four runs and seven hits over six innings in his longest and most effective start of the season. He had a 6.43 ERA in six previous starts.

GALLO SITS

Banister sat young power-hitter Joey Gallo, a left-handed hitter, against the right-handed Gee. Gallo is 1-for-14 with nine strikeouts since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock last week.

“This guy has minor league power pedigree that we’re willing to be patient with,” Banister said.

“We’re still winning, and that’s the best part about it,” Gallo said. “It just takes time.”

SHORT HOPS

The temperature was 96 degrees at first pitch and reached 99. … Gee played collegiately at Texas-Arlington and makes his off-season home in nearby Fort Worth. … Banister also sat CF Ian Desmond and SS Elvis Andrus ahead of Monday’s travel day. . Adrian Beltre got his 2,873rd career hit, tying him with Babe Ruth for 43rd place all time.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Kansas City placed closer Wade Davis on the DL (flexor strain). LHP Matt Strahm was brought up from Double-A Northwest Arkansas and made his major league debut. He faced three batters and allowed one earned run. … Rangers RF Shin-Soo Choo (back) did rehab work Sunday for the second straight day and reported no discomfort. He hopes to be ready when eligible for re-activation on Thursday.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (6-1) will start the series opener at Tampa Bay on Monday. Duffy has five wins and four no-decisions in his last nine starts, most recently losing on June 6.

Rangers: RHP Yu Darvish (2-2) will make his seventh start since starting his season in late May following Tommy John surgery when the Rangers open a series at Baltimore on Tuesday. Both losses have come since returning from the disabled list on July 16 following shoulder discomfort. He could reach 100 pitches for the first time this season.

— Associated Press —

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mitch Moreland homered with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Texas Rangers a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

Moreland’s 17th homer landed in the second deck of seats in right field.

Brooks Pounders (1-1) had gotten the first two outs in the ninth before Moreland homered for the fourth time in five games. He had two homers Thursday night when Texas won 3-2 in the series opener against the Royals.

Matt Bush (4-2) pitched two scoreless innings, with one strikeout.

Both starting pitchers, Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy and Rangers lefty Martin Perez, allowed one run over seven innings. While both had strong outings to finish the month, they are each 0-3 in six July starts.

The AL West-leading Rangers won their third straight game to clinch the series against the stumbling defending World Series champion Royals. Texas has an AL-high 61 wins and a five-game division lead over Houston.

Kansas City has lost seven of its last eight games and 32 of 51 overall since the start of June. At 49-54, the Royals are five games under .500 for the first time since the end of the 2012 season.

Perez struck out five and got 14 of his 21 outs on groundballs, including three more double plays. The left-hander has induced a majors-high 28 double plays this season. Perez allowed consecutive singles to start the game, and leadoff hitter Alcides Escobar eventually scored on Eric Hosmer’s groundout for a 1-0 lead.

Kennedy struck out six without a walk.

Elvis Andrus led off the Texas third with a triple and scored when Bobby Wilson blooped a single over the drawn-in infield.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Closer Wade Davis headed back to Kansas City on Saturday night for an MRI on his right arm. Davis, who last pitched Wednesday, was on the 15-day disabled list earlier this month with a strain in his forearm. … C Salvador Perez was back in the Royals lineup after being a late scratch Friday because of flu-like symptoms.

Rangers: OF Shin-Soo Choo is eligible to come off the disabled list Thursday after being out since July 20 with lower back inflammation. Choo said he’s feeling normal and able to do everything.

UP NEXT

Royals: Dillon Gee (3-4) has started only once in his career against Texas, going six innings in a win for the New York Mets in 2011. Gee is from Cleburne, Texas, which is about 45 miles from Rangers Ballpark.

Rangers: Right-hander Lucas Harrell makes his Rangers debut, four days after being acquired from Atlanta along with reliever Dario Alvarez for a minor league infielder. Harrell was 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in five starts for the Braves, including six scoreless innings in a win Tuesday at Minnesota. He previously pitched in the majors for the Chicago White Sox (2010-11) and Houston Astros (2011-14).

— Associated Press —

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rougned Odor homered twice, and A.J. Griffin also went a little deeper for the Texas Rangers.

Odor hit a ball into the second deck of seats for the second game in a row, along with another solo shot that just cleared the wall, and Griffin had his longest outing in seven starts since coming off the disabled list in the Rangers’ 8-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

“I felt like that was a big step. I made a little adjustment in my delivery. I was more direct to the target,” said Griffin, who was out of the majors the past two seasons after Tommy John surgery. “Two years off from pitching is a long time. It caught up with me a little bit. I feel like I am getting that second wind. My shoulder’s responding a lot better with each outing.”

Griffin (4-1) is the only Texas starter other than All-Star lefty Cole Hamels with a win in July.

The right-hander has been back just over a month from the disabled list, getting sidelined by right shoulder stiffness after going 3-1 in six starts through the first week of May. He struck out one and walked two while throwing 66 of 98 pitches for strikes in 5 2/3 innings.

“Probably the best he’s used the up-to-down game,” manager Jeff Banister said. “The high fastball, low fastball, cutter, not really focusing on one location at the plate.”

Jurickson Profar also homered for the AL West-leading Rangers, and scored three runs.

Odor’s solo homer in the first put Texas up 3-0 against Edinson Volquez (8-9). That 443-foot drive into the second deck in right field came a night after Odor’s 465-footer that is the longest in his career. His 21st homer, in the seventh, barely cleared the 8-foot wall in right.

“I don’t try to hit homers, but if I hit it I feel good,” Odor said.

Eric Hosmer homered for the defending World Series champion Royals, who dropped to 10 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central. It is the first time Kansas City, also the AL champion in 2014, has been 10 games back in the division since a 10 1/2-game deficit on Aug. 31, 2013.

“Offense has been sporadic. It’s just been tough. You just come to the ballpark the next day ready to find a way to win a game,” manager Ned Yost said. “Keep grinding away. … Your mindset is there’s a couple months left of baseball to play.”

FROM NONE TO SOME

Texas loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth without scoring, but Profar and Nomar Mazara had consecutive doubles to start the fifth. An inning later, Profar hit his fifth homer of the season.

HOSMER HOMER

After Lorenzo Cain was hit by a pitch with two outs in the sixth, Hosmer snapped an 0-for-14 slump with his 14th homer. That got the Royals within 5-2 and chased Griffin.

SHORT HOPS

Volquez allowed nine hits and six runs while striking out five in six innings. .. Reliever Dario Alvarez made his Rangers debut, two days after coming in a trade from Atlanta. The lefty allowed singles to the only two batters he faced to start the seventh. … Veteran RHP Kyle Lohse, who allowed 13 runs in 9 1/3 innings while losing both of his Texas starts, declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Round Rock and became a free agent.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Cain played for the first time since June 28 after missing 25 games because of a left hamstring strain. He was reactivated from the disabled list, and rookie OF Brett Eibner was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. … RHP Luke Hochevar (thoracic outlet syndrome) will get a second opinion Monday from another specialist in Kansas City after a Dallas specialist on Friday recommended season-ending surgery.

Rangers: Slugger Prince Fielder’s season-ending surgery Friday to repair a herniated disk in his neck went as expected. … LHP Derek Holland, on the 60-day DL with left shoulder inflammation and not eligible to come back before Aug. 20, said he wasn’t tired after throwing a 42-pitch bullpen session. He is scheduled to throw live batting practice Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (6-9) is 0-3 in five starts this month. He is also 0-2 in three career starts against the Rangers.

Rangers: Lefty Martin Perez (7-7) was 4-0 in five starts in June, but goes into his sixth start in July still without a win. He’s 0-3 this month, and has allowed 29 runs (22 earned) his last four starts.

— Associated Press —

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mitch Moreland’s second home run of the game broke a tie in the eighth inning and Cole Hamels earned his 12th win of the season as the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Thursday night.

Hamels (12-2) allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings, matching his longest start of the season. His 123 pitches were 10 more than his previous high for the year. He didn’t allow an earned run in his previous two starts, totaling 13 1/3 innings.

Sam Dyson earned his 21st save in 23 opportunities, stranding the tying run at third base.

Rougned Odor also homered for the Rangers.

Both homers by the left-handed hitting Moreland were to the opposite field. It was Moreland’s 10th career multi-homer game and second of the season. He has five homers in his last 11 hits.

Yordano Ventura (6-9) threw the first complete game of his career, pitching eight innings. He allowed only four hits, including the three homers. He is 0-5 in six starts since his last win on June 17.

Hamels’ 12 strikeouts equaled his Texas high, set last September vs. Seattle. His career high — set with Philadelphia — is 15. The 12 is the most by a Rangers pitcher this season.

Paulo Orlando’s second home run of the season, and first since May 17, was pulled well beyond the 14-foot wall in left field and gave Kansas City a 1-0 lead.

Odor’s 465-foot homer into the upper deck in right field in the second inning increased his career-best total to 19 and was the farthest of his career.

Kansas City retook the lead with a run in the fifth when Raul Mondesi’s topper to shortstop scored Alex Gordon. Gordon had singled and advanced to third on a blooper to center by Brett Eibner that broke an 0-for-19 streak. Moreland then homered in the bottom of the fifth.

Neither team had a hit with runners in scoring position. Kansas City was 0 for 11 while Texas didn’t have an at-bat in that situation.

SHORT HOPS

The game began after a 35-minute rain delay. It was the second rain delay in three days, an unusual summer occurrence in Arlington. … The first son of Royals 3B Cheslor Cuthbert was born on Thursday morning in Venezuela.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Luke Hochevar was placed on the 15-day disabled list with symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Rangers: LHP Derek Holland (shoulder) is expected to throw a bullpen session on Friday. One of the scheduled hitters is RF Shin Soo-Choo (hamstring strain).

UP NEXT

Friday night’s game will be a pitching rematch of Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 Texas win at Kauffman Stadium in which each starter allowed one run and got a no-decision. Royals RHP Edinson Volquez (8-8) allowed seven hits in six innings, Rangers RHP A.J. Griffin (3-1) four hits in five innings.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Raul Mondesi celebrated an unforgettable 21st birthday.

Mondesi had two infield singles, leading to four runs and two pitchers throwing errors — plus a protest by the Los Angeles Angels — as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 7-5 victory on Wednesday night.

Mondesi had a bunt single for his first big league hit, with two runs scoring on the play on pitcher Matt Shoemaker’s throwing error in the seventh inning.

“This one I enjoy,” Mondesi said of his birthday. “Playing with these guys, this is amazing.”

Shoemaker, who did not allow a base runner until the fifth inning, yielded singles to Alex Gordon and Paulo Orlando to start the seventh. Mondesi, called up Tuesday, put down a bunt and beat the throw to first as the throw by Shoemaker (5-11) sailed into right field.

Both runners scored and Mondesi wound up on third.

“That’s part of my game,” Mondesi said of bunting. “I like it. I enjoy bunting and with that throw we score two runs.”

Angels manager Mike Scioscia came out claiming interference, that Mondesi was not running within the lines, and after a 6 minute, 15 second review the call on the field was not changed. Scioscia officially protested the game.

Royals manager Ned Yost said there is no way the protest would be upheld.

“You can’t protest a judgmental call,” Yost said. “I’ve never protested a game. I’ve never been part of a game that was protested.”

Scioscia had a completely opposite viewpoint, saying he is “100 percent” certain the protest would be upheld.

“It’s not a judgement call,” Scioscia said. “I would not have protested if I was not 100 percent correct on this. This is a misinterpretation of a rule. It was very clear. Phil Cuzzi, the home plate umpire, had Mondesi running inside the line in jeopardy the whole way, and stated that it’s okay because he was stepping back toward the bag, which is wrong.”

Jarrod Dyson rifled a triple to right, scoring Mondesi and making all the runs earned. Dyson scored on Alcides Escobar’s sacrifice fly.

Mondesi added a run-scoring infield single in a two-run eighth. The second run scored on pitcher Jose Alvarerz’s throwing error.

Joakim Soria (4-4) pitched a scoreless inning for the win after replacing left-hander Danny Duffy in the seventh. Duffy allowed three runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out five.

Shoemaker was charged with five runs on eight hits in six-plus innings.

Albert Pujols walked with the bases loaded with one out in the ninth and Andrelton Simmons singled in another run before Wade Davis struck out Jett Bandy to end the game.

Gordon and Orlando each contributed three hits. Orlando had two doubles and a fifth-inning RBI.

Jefry Marte had two doubles and a RBI for the Angels, while Johnny Giavotella had his second consecutive three-hit game.

ROYALS MEETING

With several Royals names surfacing in trade rumors, Yost addressed it in a team meeting. “These guys are a real, real close group,” Yost said. “They know that this trade deadline (Monday) is bearing down on them. They don’t want to see anybody leave that room. They want to see us all continue to stay together. That’s adding a little bit of anxiety and urgency to their game. But sometimes it can be a little too much. They’re trying to make things happen, instead of letting things develop. Just catch your breath.”

OUTFIELD DEBUT

Gregorio Petit, who had only played the infield professionally, started in left field for the Angels. “We’re trying to get another right-handed bat in there and get Greg some at-bats,” Scioscia said. “He’s been working out there for the last two months.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: OF Shane Robinson (sprained right ankle) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Class-A Inland Empire in the California League.

Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (strained left hamstring) went 1 for 4 with a single and a strikeout while playing seven innings in right field.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Jered Weaver will start Thursday at Anaheim against the Red Sox, who will counter with LHP David Price.

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura, who lost to the Rangers on Saturday, will face them again Thursday in the opener of a four-game series at Arlington. LHP Cole Hamels will be the Texas starter.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tyler Skaggs pitched seven innings in his first big league start in two years and Yunel Escobar went 5 for 5 to help the Los Angeles Angels pound the Kansas City Royals 13-0 on Tuesday night.

Kole Calhoun drove in four runs and Carlos Perez had four hits, including a home run. Mike Trout drove in three runs, and Johnny Giavotella had three hits, including two doubles, and scored three runs.

Escobar matched a career high for hits and the Angels collected 22 overall, equaling their season best.

Skaggs allowed three singles, struck out five and walked one. The 25-year-old left-hander, who had elbow surgery in August 2014, had his fastball clocked in the 91-95 mph range in his return to the majors.

Calhoun doubled home Escobar in the first inning. The Royals have been outscored 73-51 in the first inning after allowing only 68 first-inning runs last year.

Calhoun drove in another run in the fourth with a groundout. He also had a sacrifice fly in the sixth and another run-scoring grounder in the ninth.

Perez led off the sixth with his fifth homer.

Royals right-hander Dillon Gee (3-4) was charged with five runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings.

The Angels sent 13 men to the plate in a seven-run ninth. Reserve catcher Drew Butera got the final out in his second pitching appearance of the season.

The Royals have dropped six of seven to fall three games below .500 for the first time this season.

MONDESI CALLED UP

Raul Mondesi, the first player to make his major league debut in the World Series, was called up and inserted into Kansas City’s lineup at second base. He went 0 for 3.

Mondesi, who turns 21 on Wednesday, struck out as a pinch hitter in Game 3 of the World Series against the New York Mets.

Mondesi hit .400 in his final nine games with Triple-A Omaha with seven RBI and five stolen bases. He began the season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, but was suspended for 50 games in May for testing positive for a banned substance.

The Royals optioned utilityman Whit Merrifield to Omaha. Merrifield hit .317 in his first 34 games, but only .169 in his last 19 games, including going 1 for 17 after the All-Star break.

CUNNINGHAM CUT

The Angels designated outfielder Todd Cunningham for assignment to make room for Skaggs. Cunningham hit .148 with one RBI in 20 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: Dr. David Altchek confirmed the initial diagnosis of RHP Nick Tropeano’s ligament tear in his right elbow. The Angels are discussing options with Tropeano, who went to New York for the second opinion.

Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) will play his first rehab game Thursday with Triple-A Omaha. “We’ll monitor it day to day and see how he’s feeling,” manager Ned Yost said. “Soon as feels like he’s good to go, he’ll be back.”

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker starts for Los Angeles on Wednesday. He has allowed two or fewer runs in seven starts without getting a win.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy goes for Kansas City. He has won his past five decisions and is 3-0 with a 3.70 ERA at home.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Albert Pujols drove in four runs, Hector Santiago won his fifth consecutive start and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Monday night.

Pujols drove in two with a bases-loaded single during a four-run first, then added RBI singles in the seventh and ninth innings. He leads the majors with 26 RBI in July, including 16 in his past eight games.

The Angels batted around in the first, which also included Daniel Nava’s sacrifice fly and Carlos Perez’s RBI infield single with two outs.

Santiago (9-4) is 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA in July. He held the Royals to two runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer in the fourth for the only Royals runs. It was the sixth straight game the Royals have scored four or fewer runs.

The Royals loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth but failed to score when Santiago struck out Kendrys Morales on three pitches.

Ian Kennedy (6-9), who did not give up a home run for the first time in 10 starts, is 0-3 in five starts since a victory June 26. He allowed four runs on six hits, three walks and a hit batter in five-plus innings.

The Royals did not have a baserunner off four relievers. Cam Bedrosian struck out Eric Hosmer, Morales and Perez on 13 pitches in the eighth inning. Bedrosian has not permitted a run in his past 22 games, covering 20 2/3 innings.

The Royals have lost 14 of 20 July games to fall two games below .500.

DAVIS TRADE POSSIBLE

With the Yankees dealing closer Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs, several contending clubs have reportedly talked to the Royals about the availability of Wade Davis, who has 21 saves in 23 chances with a 1.10 ERA. Davis is under contract through the 2017 season.

“I wouldn’t classify or characterize any player as untouchable,” Royals manager Dayton Moore said Monday. “I never have. We always evaluate somebody’s level of interest and what their level of interest may mean to the improvement of our team as far as players that they would be willing to part with. That’s what you do. That’s what we continually do especially this time of year.

“Whether we make a move or not, we are evaluating the landscape, which potentially puts us in a better position this offseason to improve our roster.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: RHP Nick Tropeano, who has been diagnosed with a medium to high grade UCL right elbow tear, traveled to New York for a second opinion from Dr. David Altchek.

Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) took batting practice and ran before the game. “It sounds like it’s all good,” manager Ned Yost said.

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs, who has not thrown in the majors since July 31, 2014 after elbow surgery and shoulder tendinitis, will start Tuesday. In his past two starts with Triple-A Salt Lake, he allowed no runs and two hits while striking out 26 in 12 2/3 innings.

Royals: RHP Dillon Gee makes his first start against the Angels since April 11, 2014 while with the Mets.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Delino DeShields is known for his speed, stealing 101 bases in 2012 in the minors, not for his power.

DeShields homered in the seventh inning to break a tie and the Texas Rangers defeated the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Sunday.

DeShields, who was recalled Thursday from Triple-A Round Rock, walked and doubled before leading off the seventh with his third home run. DeShields hit a 2-1 pitch from Luke Hochevar out to left.

“It so happened that today I was the guy that got us the go-ahead run,” DeShields said. “I was just trying to hit the ball hard. I wasn’t looking for anything specific. I wanted to get on base. Before I had gotten on base in every at-bat.

“With the game tied and if I get myself in scoring position, there’s a good chance for me to touch home plate. I got into it pretty good and got it over the fence, but the main focus was just putting the barrel on the ball and try to get on base.”

The loss dropped the Royals to 48-49, the first time the World Series champions have been below .500 since May 15 when they were 18-19. The Royals have lost 13 of 19 games in July.

Left-hander Alex Claudio (2-1) picked up the win, pitching a scoreless sixth.

Hochevar (2-3) took the loss and has allowed six runs in 6 1/3 innings in July.

“It was a four-seam fastball and it just took off and ran back over the plate,” Hochevar said of DeShields’ home run. “Trying to go down and away with that and it just ran middle.

Rangers relievers Claudio, Keone Kela, Jake Diekman and Sam Dyson held the Royals scoreless the final four innings.

Dyson earned his 20th save in 22 opportunities, but not before allowing two singles and taking Paulo Orlando’s liner off his right shoulder.

After stranding runners at third base in the third, fourth and fifth innings, the Rangers broke through with a clutch hit in the sixth when Mitch Moreland’s two-out single scored Adrian Beltre, who began the inning with a single.

Royals starter Edinson Volquez left after six innings and 91 pitches, allowing one run and seven hits, while walking three and striking out three. It was Volquez’s fifth straight start pitching at least six innings and he has a 2.87 ERA in that span.

There were scouts watching Volquez, who is eligible for free agency after this season and could be traded at the deadline.

“He pitched in and out of trouble all day long, a fantastic job,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin left after allowing four hits in five innings, including Kendrys Morales’ home run in the fourth inning. Morales had three of the Royals’ seven hits.

“I tried to keep them off balance as well as I could,” Griffin said. “It’s a good team win. Delino had a great day. I think it was good step forward for the whole team and something to build on.”

The Rangers won back-to-back games for the first time since June 27-28.

PEREZ RESTED

C Salvador Perez was not in the Royals lineup for the first time since July 3 with Drew Butera behind the plate with a day game after a night game. Perez was in a 2-for-23 skid with eight strikeouts and no walks over six games before delivering a pinch single in the ninth.

RETURNING HOME

The Rangers wrapped up a nine-game, 10-day trip Sunday and play their next seven at Globe Life Park. They have played only four home games in the past 28 days from June 27 to July 24.

RANGERS SIGN BRESLOW

Left-hander Craig Breslow, who was released Monday by the Marlins, has signed a minor league contract with the Rangers and assigned to Triple-A Round Rock. Breslow, 35, is 22-29 with a 3.35 ERA in 539 games in the majors with San Diego, Boston, Cleveland, Minnesota, Oakland, Arizona and Miami.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: General manager Jon Daniels said he anticipates LHP Derek Holland and RHP Colby Lewis will return to the rotation on Aug. 20 and 21, the dates they are eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list.

Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) ran before the game. “He’s making progress,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We’ll evaluate it tomorrow.”

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Martin Perez, who has lost his past three starts, will start against the Athletics at Arlington.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy, who starts the series opener against the Angels, allowed four home runs in a Wednesday loss to the Indians and is tied with teammate Chris Young in allowing a major league-high 26 homers.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — With the Texas Rangers’ defense committing three errors in the first three innings, Cole Hamels had to pitch out of some dangerous situations.

Hamels allowed one unearned run in 5 1/3 innings, Nomar Mazara and Adrian Beltre homered and the Rangers defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-4 on Saturday night.

Hamels, who is 6-1 with a 2.24 ERA in his past nine starts, limited the Royals to five hits, struck out four and walked three. Hamels (11-2) lowered his ERA to 2.87, which is tied for third in the American League.

“A gritty performance,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “Obviously, we made it challenging for him with some of the misplays, but he was able to cover them up.”

The Rangers picked up only their fifth victory in 20 games. Hamels has started three of those victories.

“It’s not too cool here right now,” Hamels said of the weather, which had a heat index of 104 degrees for the first pitch. “You just try to stay cool. The other guy has got to do it, too. It’s just a matter of trying to outlast your opponent. They’re a good team. I’m aware of that. I tried to make pitches when you have to.”

Mazara homered in the fourth with Jurickson Profar, who had walked, aboard, which was the first hit off Royals starter Yordano Ventura. Mazara, who tops all American League rookies with 25 games with multiple hits and 141 total bases, doubled to center in the fifth, scoring Delino DeShields.

Beltre, a career .363 hitter at Kauffman Stadium, hit a three-run homer in the Rangers’ four-run seventh off Joakim Soria. Ian Desmond singled in the first run of the inning. Soria has allowed six runs in his past two outings and has a 9.72 ERA in his past nine relief appearances.

Ventura was struck in the right rib cage by a Beltre laser to end the fifth. After Ventura threw to first base, he collapsed to the ground in pain and was attended to by trainer Nick Kenney. X-rays were negative, but Ventura did not come out for the sixth. Ventura (6-8) gave up three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out five.

“I got hit in the rib, obviously, and just lost my breath,” Ventura said through an interpreter. “I was trying to just regain my breath. It hurt at first but I recuperated pretty good.”

He said he does not anticipate missing a start.

Cheslor Cuthbert doubled with one out in the first, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games and took third on Mazara’s fielding error. Cuthbert scored on Eric Hosmer’s groundout for the only run off Hamels.

The Royals scored three runs in the ninth on four singles and a bases-loaded walk before Salvador Perez grounded into a double play to end the game.

“It’s a big deficit heading into the last inning,” said Hosmer, who drove in a run in the ninth with an infield single. “We did a good job of getting to Hamels a little bit, getting him in some situations and getting him out of there early, but it kind of got away from us before we can fire back at their bullpen.”

RANGERS ADD DUFFY

The Rangers claimed 1B Matt Duffy off waivers from the Astros and assigned him to their Triple-A Round Rock club. Duffy, 27, hit .294 with 20 home runs, 29 doubles and 104 RBI last season with Fresno in the Pacific Coast League. He was hitless in three at-bats this season with Houston.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: LHP Derek Holland, who is on the 60-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation, threw his first bullpen session, 25 pitches, since going on the DL. If he has no setbacks, Holland could begin a minor league rehab assignment in early August.

Royals: LHP Mike Minor, who had labrum surgery in 2015, threw a simulated game but has yet to pitch in a big league game this season.

UP NEXT

Rangers: RHP A.J. Griffin will be working on five days’ rest Sunday after a no-decision Monday at the Angels.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez is 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA in three career starts against the Rangers, his first club.

— Associated Press —