Keone Kela picked up his 17th save in 17 opportunities in 2018 and 19th in a row dating back to last season with a 1-2-3 ninth for the Rangers. Jake Diekman struck out two in a perfect eighth to garner his eighth hold.

Hamels (4-6), who has a 1.45 ERA and .176 opponent batting average in his last five road games, walked three and struck out seven and departed after throwing 108 pitches, 72 of which were strikes.

It was the eighth straight loss and 14th in 15 games for the Royals, who fell to 10-28 at home this season. Jason Hammel (2-8) took the loss, falling to 0-5 this season in seven home starts and also extending his home winless streak to nine games.

Hammel allowed four runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out four.

Hamels, who entered the contest with the second lowest run support in the American League (2.74), including a total of four runs in his previous four starts, had a 4-0 lead to work with after just 2 1/2 innings.

Center fielder Delino DeShields started the scoring with a two-run bases-loaded double in the second. Kiner-Falefa added an RBI double in the third, driving in Adrian Beltre, who had reached base on a forceout. Catcher Robinson Chirinos then followed with a grounder that Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas mishandled for an error, scoring Jurickson Profar, who had walked.

Kansas City cut it to 4-1 in the fifth on a two-out single by right fielder Rosell Herrera that drove in Alex Gordon, who opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error by Kiner-Falefa.

Rangers left fielder Shin-Soo Choo had a ground single in the sixth inning, the 33rd consecutive game that he reached base, the longest active streak in the major leagues and a career best.

--Field Level Media