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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Perhaps it simply took a whirlwind trip to the White House for the Kansas City Royals to remember that theyre the reigning World Series champions.Danny Duffy scattered four hits while pitching into the seventh inning, the Royals scratched out three runs off the Rangers Yu Darvish, and Kansas City shrugged off a sluggish start to the second half to beat Texas 3-1 on Friday night in the opener of their three-game series.I think being around the guys on an off day was a positive, said Duffy, who along with the rest of the Royals slipped out of town to see President Barack Obama in the midst of a long homestand. We got to do something not a lot of people get to do.The Royals had dropped four of six since the All-Star break before Friday night, when Duffy (6-1) gave up only Rougned Odors homer in the fourth inning. The left-hander struck out four, walked two and gave his bullpen a breather on a steamy evening that began with a heat index of 108 degrees.Luke Hochevar wiggled out of Duffys jam to end the seventh, Kelvin Herrera pitched a perfect eighth and Wade Davis worked around a two-out single in the ninth for his 21st save.The victory kept the Royals (48-47) from dropping below .500 for the first time since May 17.Duffys got a big fastball with a quality changeup and breaking ball. He was really tough on us, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. A quality start, a quality starter, hes been doing that all year.Darvish (2-2) nearly matched Duffy in his third start off the disabled list. He allowed single runs in each of the first three innings, struck out 11 and made only one big mistake -- Cheslor Cuthberts home run.I feel really good about where Yu is at and what he showed us tonight, Banister said.Still, it wasnt good enough to keep the AL West-leading Rangers from losing for the eighth time in nine games. The slide has been marked by poor pitching, inconsistent hitting and a series of devastating injuries -- sluggers Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo went on the DL earlier this week.Without them, the Rangers certainly struggled to create scoring chances Friday night.Duffy carved through the lineup without allowing a hit the first time through, the only baserunner a walk to Elvis Andrus. He went on to load the bases on a single and hit batter in the third inning, but Duffy calmly struck out Ian Desmond on three pitches to leave them stranded.His only other trouble came when he put runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh, forcing Hochevar in from the bullpen. He got pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland on a liner to preserve a 3-1 lead.They built it in typical Royals fashion: They scored a run in the first on a single, stolen base, error and groundout then scored again in the second on a walk, stolen base and consecutive singles.It wasnt until Cuthbert went deep leading off the third that they made Darvish look fallible.Darvish is a really good pitcher, Royals manager Ned Yost said. To scratch out two runs early is perfect situational baseball, to give us that lead early.ROSTER MOVESThe Rangers reinstated LHP Jake Diekman (cut left index finger) from the DL and designated LHP Cesar Ramos for assignment. Diekman last pitched July 5 at Boston.TRAINERS ROOMRangers: Fielder will see neck specialist Dr. Drew Dossett on Monday. The DH/1B is facing the prospect of season-ending neck surgery after an MRI earlier this week revealed a herniated disk near an area that was repaired two years ago. Dossett also performed that procedure.Royals: CF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) hoped to begin a rehab assignment his weekend, but it has been pushed back to early next week. Hes been on the DL since June 29. He was pushing it too hard two days ago and just kind of fatigued his leg, Yost said. Not a setback by any stretch.UP NEXTRangers LHP Cole Hamels, who tossed eight sharp innings in a win over the Cubs his last time out, makes his first career start at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday. He faces Royals RHP Yordano Ventura. Adidas NMD Italia . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Adidas NMD Uomo Saldi . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.nmdscontate.it/ . LOUIS -- St. Adidas NMD Scontate . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Adidas NMD Offerte . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. TORONTO -- Ubaldo Jimenez is rounding into form at the right time for the Baltimore Orioles.Jimenez and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 4-0 on Thursday night, moving into a tie with Toronto in the AL wild card race with three games remaining.(Jimenez) was in command pretty much all night, Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said. In a big game like that, he really kept his emotions under control like I knew he would. He threw the ball great.When he last started at Toronto on June 12, Jimenez allowed five runs and six hits in 1/3 of an inning, the shortest start of his career.Whatever happened to me in the past, I dont even think about that, Jimenez said. If you get stuck in the past, youre not going to be able to move on. Whether its good or bad, you have to find a way to look forward.The right-hander made his return a triumphant one, carving up the Blue Jays for 6 2/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Ezequiel Carreras single to begin the first. Josh Donaldson followed with a walk but Jimenez retired the next six batters in order.Boy, he was solid, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. It was big to get a positive feeling early on. It was fun to watch him.Devon Travis walked to open the third and advanced on Carreras sacrifice, but that was the first of 11 consecutive outs for Jimenez, a streak that ended with Edwin Encarnacions two-out walk in the sixth. Jose Bautista flied out to end the inning.Jimenez (8-12) improved to 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA in five September starts. He walked three and struck out five.Donnie Hart got one out in the seventh and Brad Brach finished.The Orioles visit New York for the final weekend of the season, while the Blue Jays head to Boston to face the AL East champion Red Sox.Detroit, which was rained out Thursday, is 1 1/2 games behind the Orioles and Blue Jays.Baltimore trailed through eight innings on Wednesday before winning 3-2 on Hyun Soo Kims two-run homer in the ninth.dddddddddddd Thanks to Jimenezs effort on Thursday, the Orioles have won five of six.This time of year, momentum is huge, Wieters said. Over 162 (games), momentum is going to come and go but once you start getting close to the playoffs, momentum is big. Were going to try and keep it going as long as we can.Manny Machado opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the third, Michael Bourns fielders choice grounder made it 2-0 in the fourth and Bourn scored on Kims two-out single in the seventh.Mark Trumbo doubled to begin the eighth and Wieters chased Marcus Stroman with an RBI single.Stroman (9-10) gave up nine hits and four runs in seven-plus innings, reaching the 200-inning plateau for the first time. Stroman is winless in eight starts.Were hoping our luck starts to turn, Stroman said. Were hoping to go into Boston and come out firing.FIRING BLANKSThe Orioles have nine shutouts this season. The past six have come against AL East opponents.DRAWING POWERThe crowd of 47,791 was Torontos 39th sellout. The Blue Jays drew an AL-high 3,392,099 this season.TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: Travis returned after sitting out the previous two games. He jammed his surgically repaired shoulder in Mondays benches-clearing brawl with New York.UP NEXTOrioles: Yovani Gallardo left Toronto on Thursday afternoon to fly to New York, where he will start Friday night against the Yankees. Gallardo (5-8, 5.63) allowed eight runs, seven earned, in 1 1/3 innings in his previous start at New York, a 14-4 loss on Aug. 26. RHP Michael Pineda (6-11, 4.68) starts for the Yankees.Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada will start against the Red Sox on Friday night as Toronto wraps up the regular season in Boston. Estrada has allowed one run and five hits in 14 innings over his previous two outings. Rick Porcello (22-4, 3.11) starts for the Red Sox. ' ' '