ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yordano Venturas first career complete game wasnt enough to get the Kansas City Royals their first winning streak this month.Mitch Morelands second home run of the game broke a tie in the eighth inning and Cole Hamels earned his 12th win of the season as the Royals lost to the Texas Rangers 3-2 on Thursday night.The Royals came to Texas to open a four-game weekend series on the heels of a 7-5 home win over the Los Angeles Angels that snapped a four-game losing streak. Theyre 4-9 since the All-Star break, havent won consecutive games since June 29-30, and have fallen nine games behind first-place Cleveland in the AL Central.In Wednesdays win, the Royals snapped an 18-inning scoreless streak. In Thursdays loss, Kansas City managed six hits off Hamels (12-2) and closer Sam Dyson and went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.When Royals manager Ned Yost was asked how his team can emerge from its slump, his blunt answer referred to such struggles at the plate.Start stinking hitting, he said. Its as simple as that. Start hitting and start getting some run production.Ventura (6-9) allowed only four hits, but three were home runs. That included the second of Mitch Morelands two shots, both to the opposite field, which broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning.Ventura struck out six and walked only one. He said through a translator that he was able to do with the ball what he wanted, keep it low in the strike zone.I hate that the result was what it was, but I thought he pitched a great game, Yost said. He got out on a couple of pitches but less than a handful. He really stayed within himself.In Venturas last six starts, he has five losses and a no-decision. His most recent win came on June 17.The game was a pitching rematch of the Rangers 7-4 win in Kansas City last Saturday, with the same pitchers of record. Hamels 123 pitches on Thursday night were 10 more than his previous high for the year. Since the All-Star break, hes 3-0 with a 0.84 ERA and .190 opponents batting average.Hes our front-end guy, Texas manager Jeff Banister said. I mean, hes our ace. Hes the guy that sits in the front of that rotation.Paulo Orlandos second home run of the season, and first since May 17, was pulled well beyond the 14-foot wall in left field and gave Kansas City a 1-0 lead.Kansas City broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth when Raul Mondesis topper to shortstop scored Alex Gordon. Gordon had singled and advanced to third on a blooper to center by Brett Eibner that broke an 0-for-19 streak.JUST PLAYING AROUNDWhen Rougned Odor homered off Ventura in the second inning, the two exchanged stares. Both are known to get emotional on the field, but Ventura said they were simply having fun.Even though were not on the same team, I have a good friendship with him, Ventura said through the translator. It was a bad pitch. Odor is a good fastball hitter, and I missed my location.SHORT HOPSThe first son of Royals 3B Cheslor Cuthbert was born on Thursday morning in Venezuela. . Texas also didnt have a hit with runners in scoring position because it didnt have an at-bat in such a situation. . The game began after a 35-minute rain delay. It was the second rain delay in three days, an unusual summer occurrence in Arlington.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: RHP Luke Hochevar was placed on the 15-day disabled list with symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.Rangers: LHP Derek Holland (shoulder) is expected to throw a bullpen session on Friday. One of the scheduled hitters is RF Shin Soo-Choo (hamstring strain).UP NEXTFriday nights game will be a pitching rematch of Sunday afternoons 2-1 Texas win at Kauffman Stadium in which each starter allowed one run and got a no-decision. Royals RHP Edinson Volquez (8-8) allowed seven hits in six innings, Rangers RHP A.J. Griffin (3-1) four hits in five innings. Cheap Custom Jerseys Online . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Custom Baseball Jerseys Outlet . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. http://www.baseballjerseyscustom.com/ . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Custom Jerseys Sale . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. Clearance Custom Baseball Jerseys . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Australian coach Andrej Lemanis rejected claims by NBA star Paul George the Boomers play dirty, insisting his men just play hard.George caused a stir when he called out the Boomers for having knack for being a little bit dirty after the United States 98-88 group stage win at the Rio Olympics.The three-time All Star suggested there were some underhanded tactics in the match.The game kind of got out of hand early with the physical play, said George.We were doing the same stuff they were doing and we got hacked for it. Lemanis laughed off the claims.Its always interesting when you talk about being dirty, he said.If you look at the NBA playoffs, I think thhey call that playing hard.ddddddddddddThats what we do - we play hard.But the coach said the Boomers werent a one-trick pony and have shown versatility in their wins over France, Serbia and China.Weve been able to adjust to the circumstances as required as a team, he said.Theres no doubt we can get in the trenches, but we can also move and share the ball when were given room to move.I think were in a good place.Australia, who sit second in their group with a 3-1 record, play one final pool game against Venezuela on Sunday. ' ' '