Royals fall for the first time this year, drop finale 7-3 to Texas

The Rangers exploded for a three-run third and three-run fourth inning against starter Brady Singer, and the offense was held to just three runs as the Royals fell for the first time in the Sunday finale against the Rangers, 7-3.

Singer was looking to build on his impressive rookie season and cruised through the first two innings before running into trouble in the third. With two on and two outs, Nate Lowe crushed a pitch and deposited it into the fountains for a three-run home run. In the fourth, Singer walked three consecutive hitters to load the bases. A single by Isiah Kiner-Falefa brought home a run, and an error by Andrew Benintendi brought home another. Manager Mike Matheny brought in hard-throwing lefty Jake Brentz to escape the jam with only one more run scoring on a sacrificy fly by David Dahl to make it 6-0 Texas.

Despite a high-flying offense in the first two games, the Royals bats were quiet against Rangers starter Jordan Lyles, who had a 7.02 ERA last year. Kansas City finally got on the board in the sixth when Salvador Perez cracked his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to make it 6-2 Texas. But after drawing 12 walks in the first two games, they didn’t draw a single free pass on Sunday, striking out 14 times.

Kiner-Falefa homered off Wade Davis in the ninth to extend the lead, but the Royals did make things interesting in the bottom of the inning off former Royals pitcher Ian Kennedy. Hanser Alberto doubled home the red-hot Michael Taylor to make it 7-3. But pinch-hitter Ryan McBroom would strike out to end the game.

The Royals drop the finale, but take home their first series of the year. They will head next to Cleveland for the Indians home opener on Monday, with the game to air on ESPN at 3 p.m. CT.