ARLINGTON, Texas – Rookie Jimmy Gobble pitched seven solid innings as the Kansas City Royals snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.

Mike Sweeney, Joe Randa and Carlos Beltran each had RBIs in a three-run fourth to help the Royals move within one game of both Chicago and Minnesota for the AL Central lead.

Gobble (3-3) allowed one run and four hits, struck out six and walked two after being called up from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday to join the expanded roster. He had five starts for the Royals in August, winning his first two before struggling.

Curtis Leskanic gave up one hit in a scoreless eighth, and Mike MacDougal got the final three outs for his 27th save in 35 chances as Kansas City salvaged the finale of the three-game series. The Royals had won the first six games against the Rangers before this series.

Rangers starter John Thomson (12-12), seeking his sixth victory in seven decisions, gave up three runs and four hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked one.

Texas’ Michael Young led off the first with his 12th homer.

Thomson was perfect over the first three innings before Aaron Guiel’s double leading off the fourth. Randa’s single tied it at 1 and extended Randa’s hitting streak to 16 games.

Sweeney’s triple drove in Randa to give the Royals a 2-1 lead. Sweeney scored on Beltran’s groundout.

Notes: Young has hit a leadoff homer three times this season for Texas. … Sweeney had his first triple of the season and fourth of his career. … The Royals had a closed-door pregame team meeting to discuss the four-game skid that matched their longest of the season.

AP-ES-09-03-03 2242EDT