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Francoeur lifts Royals over Rangers

May 20, 2011 - 5:51 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Jeff Francoeur hit a game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning to lift the Royals over the Rangers, 2-1, and split the teams' two-game set.

Luke Hochevar allowed one run on six hits and two walks in 8 2/3 innings, but Greg Holland (1-0), who was called up from Triple-A Omaha earlier Thursday, earned his first career victory. He tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings to help end the Royals' five-game losing streak.

Darren Oliver (1-5) took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run to reach base in the 10th, spoiling a strong performance by starter Derek Holland. The left-hander allowed just one run on nine hits and a walk in eight-plus innings for the Rangers, who have lost three of their last six.

Melky Cabrera and Eric Hosmer hit back-to-back singles against Oliver with one down in the 10th, putting runners on the corners. Cody Eppley then replaced Oliver and allowed a line-drive single to center by Francoeur that plated Cabrera and ended the game.

"I wanted to take a couple pitches just to feel [Oliver] out and see what his plan was," Francoeur said. "After I spit on couple of those sliders, I figured he was going to try to get me on that sinker in and roll over it. I kept fouling them. That was the key. He threw me a couple good ones. Finally he left one up over the zone and I was able to hit it right up the middle."

Chris Davis led off the second with a home run to give the Rangers the early advantage.

"[Hochevar] left one out over the plate and I was able to hit it through the wind," Davis said.

That lead held until the bottom of the ninth, when one of Kansas City's 14 hits paid off.

Derek Holland started the inning and allowed a leadoff single to Hosmer before exiting the game. Neftali Feliz then entered and Francoeur singled to put the tying run on second. Feliz retired the next two batters before getting himself into trouble.

As Mike Aviles was batting, Feliz threw a wild pitch that moved both runners up. Aviles then hit an infield single, the end of an 11-pitch at-bat, to tie the game and give Feliz his second blown save in two days. Brayan Pena followed with a walk to load the bases and knock Feliz out of the game.

Mark Lowe then came in and retired Alcides Escobar on a soft grounder back to the mound, forcing extra innings.

Game Notes

Kansas City optioned center fielder Jarrod Dyson to Omaha on Thursday to make room for Greg Holland...Rangers outfielder Endy Chavez left the game with hamstring tightness in the fourth inning...Texas had beaten the Royals the first four times they met this season. The Rangers still have won 14 of the last 18 meetings.