Surprise, Ariz. ? Making his first start for his hometown Texas Rangers, Jason Jennings was more nervous than he had been in a long time – even though it was only spring training in Arizona.

“I wanted to make a good impression for my new teammates, my new coaches, new management,” Jennings said.

And Jennings, who signed with Texas after an injury-plagued season and surgery in Houston, did by pitching two scoreless innings Sunday in the Rangers’ 8-7 comeback victory over the Kansas City Royals.

“He really made easy work of his two innings,” manager Ron Washington said. “Anytime you haven’t been out there in a long time, it’s not nervousness. It’s just energy wanting to get going.”

Ryan Roberts hit a tying two-run homer in the ninth inning off Joel Peralta, and Ramon Vazquez had the game-winning RBI single.

After walking the first batter he faced, Jennings retired the next six.

David DeJesus went 2-for-2 with a two-run single, a double and a walk for the Royals. Mike Stodolka had a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning off Kazuo Fukumori, and Mario Lisson hit a wind-blown solo homer in the eighth for a 7-5 lead.