Kansas City, Mo. ? Brad Fullmer emerged from a deep slump in dramatic fashion.

Fullmer hit a two-run homer to cap Texas’ three-run ninth inning, and the Rangers beat the still-slumping Kansas City Royals, 9-7, on Thursday.

“I don’t anticipate swinging as bad I have for the whole season,” said Fullmer, who was in a 4-for-34 slide before his homer. “Normally, I get frustrated with myself. I’m trying to stay more even keel right now and not make it worse and prolong it. I’m just trying to get it right. It’s a long year.”

Michael Young tied it with a solo shot off Curtis Leskanic (0-3), and Hank Blalock followed with a triple before Fullmer hit a 1-0 slider into the right-field seats.

The Royals led 7-6 entering the ninth, but Young tied it by hitting a first-pitch fastball to center that bounced off the top of the fence.

It was Leskanic’s third blown save in five opportunities.

“I’m driving to the park the other day in the bright sunshine, and I’m the only car with the windshield wipers on,” Leskanic said. “That’s how my day is.”

“You just never think these things can happen to you. It’s just a bad month. Let’s get this one over with.”

Royals manager Tony Pena said he did not bring in closer Mike MacDougal because on Wednesday he warmed up twice and threw 21 pitches in Kansas City’s win.

“MacDougal was not the pitcher to bring in today,” Pena said.

6Sports video: Royals squander lead again

Rookie Justin Huisman threw only 13 pitches, 12 for strikes, in working two flawless innings to get the Royals into the ninth with a lead, but Pena said it was not the plan to leave him out there.

“He’s been a one- and two-inning guy,” Pena said. “We set a plan at the beginning of the game, and that was to close with Leskanic.”

Carlos Almanzar (3-0), the fourth of five Texas pitchers, worked two perfect innings for the victory.

Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his seventh save in seven chances.

Carlos Beltran had three hits, including his eighth home run, for the Royals in the first inning. He scored two runs and drove in two.

Rod Barajas hit a two-run homer in the Rangers’ three-run second. He also singled home Eric Young in the sixth to tie it at 6.

The Royals went ahead 7-6 in the bottom of the sixth when Ken Harvey walked with the bases loaded. Tony Graffanino led off the inning with a single, giving him a 10-game hitting streak that matched the longest of his career.

Neither starting pitcher was effective and both were gone in the fifth.

Rangers right-hander Chan Ho Park allowed six runs — four earned — and seven hits. He walked two, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch.

Dennys Reyes, making a spot start for the Royals because of a groin injury to Darrell May, went four-plus innings and gave up five runs and seven hits. He walked two, threw two wild pitches and made an error.

The Royals went 0-for-2 with the bases loaded and less than two outs, and are 1-for-15 in those situations this season.

With the bases loaded in the sixth, Randa lined out to Alfonso Soriano, who started an inning-ending double play.

“Soriano’s stab of the line drive and starting the double play was huge,” Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. “That could have opened up the floodgates if that get through.”

Notes: The Royals lead the league with 12 wild pitches. … Kansas City INF Desi Relaford, who had been out because of a pulled left hamstring, was activated from the disabled list. The Royals optioned rookie SS Andres Blanco to Double-A Wichita. … The Rangers reinstated 1B Mark Teixeira, who has been on the disabled list because of a strained oblique, and optioned 1B Adrian Gonzalez to Triple-A Oklahoma. … Beltran leads the majors with 23 runs.