KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ The Royals' return from the All-Star break had them three games out of first place in the American League Central race heading into Friday's action.
But instead of making progress against a team sitting behind them in the wild-card race, the Royals lost 5-3 to the Texas Rangers on Friday night in front of 35,591 fans at Kauffman Stadium.
The big blow came on a Mike Napoli home run off Royals reliever Mike Minor in the seventh inning.
Napoli took advantage of a change-up left in middle of the plate for a pinch-hit blast that traveled 444 feet over the left-field fence.
The Royals, meanwhile were trying to figure out Rangers starter Martin Perez. They scattered eight hits over his seven frames, cashing in for three runs.
All that, after Royals starter Jason Hammel had carried a no-hitter through 51/3 laborious innings, through which he made 86 pitches and allowed two walks to preserve a 3-0 lead.
But he unraveled in the sixth. On a ball hit just to the right of the mound, Hammel stuck out his glove and deflected what would have been a routine ground ball to second. Whit Merrifield charged the ball, but the Rangers' Elvis Andrus beat the throw, which sailed past Eric Hosmer by a few feet.
The Rangers' Nomar Mazara coaxed another hit. Mazara was followed by veteran Adrian Beltre, who in his 20th season owned a .344 average against the Royals.
And Beltre hit his 453rd career homer, his ninth of the season, to tie the game 3-3.
Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar had given Hammel early room to breathe. Escobar, who had entered with 33 career homers, squared up a 2-0 fastball in the second inning for a 2-0 lead. His third home run of the season soared 382 feet into the seats just beyond the left-field foul pole.
Jorge Bonifacio tacked on another run in the fifth for the Royals on a one-out single up the middle that allowed Merrifield to score from second base.
The hits could have been the game-winners, the ones that sent the Royals charging into the second half two games above .500.
But Hammel didn't qualify for his ninth quality start of the season. Minor didn't keep Napoli in the ball park. The Rangers won their 11th straight game against Kansas City.
And the Royals dropped to 44-44 on the season.
