ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers reliever Robbie Ross allowed three runs in the top of the 10th as the Kansas City Royals pulled out a 4-1 victory in 10 innings at Rangers Ballpark.
Ross struggles in 10th: Ross lost twice Saturday, first in a cow-milking contest to Royals catcher George Kottaras, then in the 10th inning against the light-hitting Royals. Ross loaded the bases, then struck out two to close in on getting out of the self-created jam. But he hit David Lough on the elbow to bring in the go-ahead run and Kottaras got Ross again with a two-out double over Nelson Cruz's head for a 4-1 Kansas City lead.
Beltre leaves game: Third baseman Adrian Beltre left Sunday's game after the ninth inning with tightness in his left hamstring. Beltre aggravated the injury running the bases in the fourth inning. He was 1-for-4 with a run scored in a game that was tied 1-1 after nine innings.
Rangers miss chance in ninth: Mitch Moreland drew a walk and with two outs went to third on a bloop double to left field by A.J. Pierzynski. Moreland was steaming around third but was held up by third-base coach Gary Pettis. Jurickson Profar had a chance for his first walk-off hit but popped up behind home plate.
Tepesch matches Shields: The Rangers' rookie right-hander faced a tough task going up against the always consistent James Shields. It can be argued Nick Tepesch outdueled Shields. The Royals scored their lone run -- an unearned run -- on a passed ball on Pierzynski to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth (it was more a wild pitch that should have been blocked by the Rangers' catcher). Tepesch allowed seven hits, all of them singles. He picked up 12 more ground balls outs.
Cotts delivers: Make it six inherited runners who have failed to score on Neal Cotts' watch. He entered the game in the top of the seventh with runners at first and third and one out. Cotts struck out Royals second baseman Elliot Johnson looking. After walking Alex Gordon to load the bases, Cotts was able to get shortstop Alcides Escobar to fly out to center field.
Moreland caps brief rally: The Rangers were able to string together three straight singles off Shields in the bottom of the fourth. That's big considering they had only five hits against Shields. Beltre and Cruz had two-out singles to set up Moreland, who lined a single into center field for a 1-0 lead.
Missed chance in fifth: Leonys Martin stole second against a tough pitcher to run on -- Shields -- and got to third on a throwing error by Royals catcher Adam Moore, all with one out. And it didn't produce a run, as outstanding defense by Kansas City kept the game tied. Escobar made a diving stop on a ground ball by Elvis Andrus, freezing Martin at third. Then Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas made a good play on a tapper by David Murphy to end the inning.
Scheppers the man: Tanner Scheppers was the eighth-inning man again for the Rangers, shutting down a Kansas City threat with the game still tied at 1-1. With Eric Hosmer at third base and two outs, Scheppers got Lough to ground out to shortstop to keep the game tied.
Up next: The Rangers send Yu Darvish (7-2, 3.03 ERA) to the mound Sunday afternoon against Kansas City right-hander Ervin Santana (3-5, 3.33) at 2:05 p.m. on Fox Sports Southwest and ESPN-FM 103.3 and 1540-AM.