ARLINGTON -- Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura had it all working. His fastball was lively and topping out at 98 mph. His curveball and changeup were down in the zone and puzzled hitters' timing.
Ventura allowed just four hits in authoring the first complete game of his career against the Rangers on Thursday night. But it wasn't enough. Ventura allowed three home runs and that was more than the soft Royals offense could overcome in another painful 3-2 loss.
"I thought Ventura pitched great," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "I hate that the result was what it was. But I just thought he pitched a great game."
Ventura walked one and struck six and threw a season-high 112 pitches.
"I feel good," Ventura said through interpreter Pedro Grifol. "My body and arm feel good. I was able to do with the baseball what I wanted to do. I kept the ball down for the most part."
But when Ventura missed down, he got burned. The second of three homers he allowed came on a fastball to Rougned Odor, who crushed a home run to right field. The other two homers came on breaking balls to Mitch Moreland.
"The one to Odor, I was trying to go inside and the ball came back over the plate," Ventura said. "The curveballs, they stayed up, and they were able to hit it."
The fastball to Odor actually was out of the strike zone. Odor hammered it anyway.
"Odor is a good fastball hitter, and he was ready for the fastball," Ventura said. "I just missed my location, and he did with it what he needed to do.
"I thought I threw the ball really good. I'd rather not have the complete game and have the win instead."