Texas’ Justin Smoak follows through on his three-run home run. Smoak homered off K.C.’s Kyle Davies on Thursday in Arlington, Texas.

Arlington, Texas ? Vladimir Guerrero got the desired result on his second big swing, and the Texas Rangers escaped with a victory after blowing a huge lead.

Josh Hamilton and Guerrero hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning and the Rangers pulled out a 13-12 victory over the Kansas City Royals after squandering an early eight-run lead Thursday night.

The Royals had finally taken their only lead of the game in the top of the eighth and brought in closer Joakim Soria (0-1) with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Hamilton hit a full-count pitch into the second deck of stands in right field, and Guerrero followed with his second go-ahead homer of the game, a shot that landed in the Rangers bullpen in right-center.

“It’s a great comeback, but it’s a bottom-line business and we lost the game,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said. “(Soria) left a couple of pitches over the plate, and they did what they have the ability to do to the side of the field where the ball carries.”