ARLINGTON, Texas - Rougned Odor homered twice, A.J. Griffin pitched into the sixth inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Friday night.
Jurickson Profar also went deep for the Rangers, and scored three runs.
Odor hit a solo homer in the first that put AL West-leading Texas up 3-0 against Edinson Volquez (8-9). That 443-foot drive into the second deck in right field came a night after Odor's 465-footer that is the longest in his career.
Odor had another solo shot in the seventh, his 21st of the season, barely clearing the 8-foot wall in right.
Eric Hosmer homered for the defending World Series champion Royals, who dropped to 10 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central. It is the first time Kansas City, also the AL champion in 2014, has been 10 games back in the division since a 101/2-game deficit Aug. 31, 2013.
Griffin (4-1) had his longest outing in seven starts in just more than a month since coming off the disabled list because of right shoulder stiffness. The right-hander struck out one and walked two while throwing 66 of 98 pitches for strikes in 52/3 innings.
Volquez allowed nine hits and six runs while striking out five in six innings.
Texas loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth without scoring, but Profar and Nomar Mazara had consecutive doubles to start the fifth. An inning later, Profar hit his fifth homer of the season.
After Lorenzo Cain was hit by a pitch with two outs in the sixth, Hosmer snapped an 0-for-14 slump with his 14th homer. That got the Royals within 5-2 and chased Griffin.
Notes: Cain played for the first time since June 28 after missing 25 games because of a left hamstring strain. He was reactivated from the disabled list, and rookie OF Brett Eibner was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. RHP Luke Hochevar (thoracic outlet syndrome) will get a second opinion Monday from another specialist in Kansas City after a Dallas specialist Friday recommended season-ending surgery. Rangers slugger Prince Fielder's season-ending surgery Friday to repair a herniated disk in his neck went as expected. LHP Derek Holland, on the 60-day DL with left shoulder inflammation and not eligible to come back before Aug. 20, said he wasn't tired after throwing a 42-pitch bullpen session. He is scheduled to throw live batting practice Tuesday. Royals RHP Ian Kennedy (6-9) is 0-3 in five starts this month heading into tonight's game. He is also 0-2 in three career starts against the Rangers. Rangers lefty Martin Perez (7-7) was 4-0 in five starts in June, but goes into his sixth start in July still without a win. He's 0-3 this month, and has allowed 29 runs (22 earned) his last four starts.