Rangers’ offense fights back in 8-4 win over Royals

Looking for their first four-game win streak of the year, the Royals had multiple leads but couldn’t hold any of them in a disappointing 8-4 loss to Texas on Friday night.

Facing old friend Mike Minor, the Royals struck for two quick runs when Mike Moustakas socked his 11th home run of the season in the first inning. It was a two-run jolt that gave Kansas City a 2-0 lead.

Texas got one back in the bottom of the first on a Shin Shoo Choo homer, and they tied things in the third on a fielder’s choice. But the Royals answered in the top of the fourth, regaining a lead when Jorge Soler homered to left field.

Despite the fact that his offense gave him his second lead in four innings, Erik Skoglund couldn’t hold it. He gave up a two-out, two run homer to Ronald Guzman, the No. 9 hitter, to give Texas a 4-3 lead. The Rangers got two more in the fifth, which knocked Skoglund out of the game, and then two more in the eighth to put the contest out of reach.

The Royals’ fourth run came on a seventh-inning RBI double by Ramon Torres, but the team was unable to get any closer than 6-4. Speaking of Torres, it’s nice to see what he’s brought to the table instead of trotting Ryan Goins out there every night.

Skoglund was roughed up pretty good in a tiny park that’s difficult enough for lefties. He didn’t make it out of the fifth, logging 4.1 innings and allowing seven hits and six runs. His ERA ballooned to 6.70 as his record dropped to 1-5. Oh, and Blaine Boyer gave up more runs in the eighth to raise his ERA to 11.44. It is May 25 and his ERA is still over 11.

Minor got the win for the Rangers, though he wasn’t particularly sharp, allowing four runs in six innings. He is 4-3 on the year. Keone Kela earned his 11th save.

Royals notes: Whit Merrifield, Jorge Soler, and Hunter Dozier all had two hits. As a team, the Royals had five extra-base hits and 10 total hits, so offense wasn’t the problem. The problem was giving up three two-run home runs.

The Royals are 1-9 in their last 10 games spanning three years in Arlington. They are 17-34 on the year, good for even .333333333333333333 winning percentage.

Tomorrow, Bartolo Colon, who is 45 and still going strong, will pitch for the Royals. He’s probably better than Ian Kennedy, who is his opponent. First pitch is at 3:05 pm.