KANSAS CITY -- The Royals' bullpen did give up a 2-1 lead late in a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Rockies on Thursday, but Kansas City fully believes its relief corps, which had a horrible start to the month of August, is back in a groove after the Rockies series.
Left-hander Scott Alexander got a critical out Tuesday for his first Major League save in a tense 3-2 win. On Wednesday, the bullpen held the Rockies scoreless for 3 1/3 innings to allow for Eric Hosmer's dramatic three-run homer in a 6-4 walk-off win.
And even Thursday, the bullpen did its job right up until Mike Minor served up a 3-2 floating curveball that Pat Valaika lifted out to left for a two-run homer in the eighth.
"Just one bad pitch," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
Alexander again was facing a tough spot Thursday with runners on first and third and one out in the sixth, trying to protect a 2-0 lead. He allowed a run-scoring single to his first batter, Ramiel Tapia, but Alexander's heavy sinker did its job on Trevor Story, who bounced into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
In the seventh, side-armed sinker-baller Peter Moylan came on with the potential tying run on first and one out. Moylan got DJ LeMahieu to ground into a 5-4-3 double play.

Even in the eighth, Minor was one pitch away from getting out of the inning when a 3-2 curveball floated instead of diving.
"It was a terrible pitch," Minor said. "There were a lot of them in that at-bat. I just hung it. It didn't have good break. It was a like a cement mixer, no depth to it."
But Yost chose to see the big picture.
"Bullpen did a fantastic job," Yost said. "Moylan, Alexander, and Minor, expect for one pitch up. It's a good sign.
"Guys are back executing pitches. Results have obviously been much better. This was a tough loss. But I think as a team we're playing pretty good right now."
Moylan said he, too, believes the bullpen is back.
"That's what it's like to be a reliever," he said. "Sometimes you come out and it's great. And the next time you come out and it's not so great. You just have to keep coming back and battling."