Royals slip past Rangers

? Texas designated hitter Phil Nevin homered for the second straight day, hitting one of the three home runs by the Rangers on Friday in their 7-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

Kerry Robinson, a nonroster invitee, tied the game at 3 with an RBI single in the fifth and put the Royals ahead to stay with an RBI triple in the seventh off loser Joaquin Benoit. Wilson Valdez, another non-roster invitee, followed with a two-run homer.

David DeJesus and Emil Brown hit solo homers for the Royals.

Rookie second baseman Ian Kinsler, being given a chance to be the starter after four-time All-Star Alfonso Soriano was traded, hit a solo homer to put Texas ahead 3-0 in the second. Aarom Baldiris added a three-run homer in the ninth.

Nevin’s two-run homer came in the first off Denny Bautista.