By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals bullpen gave up five unanswered runs to blow a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning, as Kansas City fell to the Texas Rangers 6-2 in the series opener in Arlington, Texas.
The Royals took the first lead of the game in the third inning as center fielder Kyle Isbel hit his fifth home run of the year to right center. But the Rangers tied the game in the very next inning, Wyatt Langford doubling to score Adolis Garcia.
Kansas City would take the lead back in the fifth inning when Garrett Hampson, who replaced Isbel in center field after he left the game with lower back tightness, singled to score left fielder MJ Melendez.
Relief pitcher John Schreiber would replace starting pitcher Brady Singer in the sixth inning, and would give up three runs recording just one out before being replaced by Sam Long, who would give up two more runs before getting out of the inning.
The Royals would record just two hits over the final three innings.
Michael Wacha is scheduled to start game two of the series for Kansas City on Saturday against Jon Gray for the Rangers. First pitch is at 3:05pm with pregame at 2:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).