Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Ian Kinsler doubled and scored the winning run in the top of the ninth, as the Texas Rangers used a four-run eighth to comeback and beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-5, in the opener of a three-game set.

Gerald Laird went 3-for-4 and Josh Hamilton knocked in his league-leading 70th RBI for the Rangers, who have won two in a row. David Murphy, Chris Shelton and Milton Bradley each had an RBI in the win.

Kevin Millwood started for Texas, going six innings, and was touched for five runs on 11 hits. Eddie Guardado (1-1) took the win as he pitched a perfect eighth and C.J. Wilson earned his 12th save of the year with a scoreless ninth.

Jose Guillen went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for Kansas City, which dropped the third of its last four contests. Alex Gordon had a solo home run and John Buck had two hits and an RBI.

Gil Meche started for the Royals and lasted six frames, yielding a run on four hits. Yasuhiko Yabuta (1-1) was credited with the loss as he gave up an unearned run on three hits in 2/3 of an inning.

The Rangers jumped on top in the ninth. Kinsler led off the frame with a double and moved to third as Michael Young grounded out. Ramon Ramirez then came on to relieve Yabuta and struck Hamilton out. Bradley was then issued an intentional walk, and on a passed ball by Buck, Kinsler scored the winning run.

"There was really no thought process to it," Kinsler said. "I knew there were two outs. We were already tied up, so I figured if there was any kind of passed ball I'm going no matter what and I was able to sneak in there."

Wilson took the hill for Texas in the home ninth and got David DeJesus to fly out to left. Mark Grudzielanek went chasing the third strike for the second out, but Gordon finagled a bloop single to right to keep the Royals alive. Guillen's slow-roller had eyes and found its way past Shelton into right field to make it first and second but Mark Teahen was caught looking at the third strike for the final out.

"I just called a sinker and it kind of cut," Buck said of the passed ball. "I know Ramirez does that every once in a while and I just missed it. Plain and simple."

DeJesus singled to lead off the home first and moved to second as Grudzielanek grounded out. Gordon worked a walk and Guillen hit an RBI single to center.

The Royals tacked on another run to make it 2-0 in the fourth. Guillen got things going with a double and Teahen worked a walk. Miguel Olivo grounded into a force that left runners on the corners and Buck singled to left, plating Guillen.

A Gordon solo homer in the fifth gave the Royals a 3-0 advantage.

Texas got on the board in the sixth. Ramon Vazquez led the inning off with a double, Kinsler followed with a walk and Young singled to load the bases. Hamilton then grounded into a fielder's choice, plating Vazquez.

Kansas City got the run back in the home sixth. Buck got things going with a single and Mike Aviles also singled, scoring Buck, who came around to score on a Bradley fielding error. Aviles advanced to third on the error and Joey Gathright followed with an RBI single to give the Royals a 5-1 lead.

Texas clawed their way back to tie it up in the eighth. Young worked a two- out walk off Ron Mahay and Hamilton made it first and second as he reached on Teahen's error at first. Brett Tomko then came on in relief and gave up a two- run double to Bradley. Murphy followed with an RBI single before Yabuta was called on in relief.

Laird welcomed Yabuta to the contest with a single and Shelton followed with an RBI single, tying the game and sending Laird to third on the throw. Brandon Boggs walked to load the bases, but Vazquez flied out to deep right field to end the threat.