Rangers 7, Royals 6: Adrian Beltre hit a three-run homer, tripled and scored twice to back a solid effort from Ryan Dempster and lead visiting Texas past Kansas City.

Michael Young added a solo home run and Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz each chipped in an RBI for the Rangers, who increased their lead in the American League West to five games over the Oakland Athletics.

Beltre clubbed his 29th blast in the first inning off Everett Teaford (1-4). After Kinsler led off with a single and Josh Hamilton drew a one-out walk, Beltre got a hanging breaking ball on a 1-2 count and slammed it into the third row in left-center for his fourth homer in the last five games.

Dempster (5-1) allowed two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out eight to earn his fourth straight win.

The Rangers were clinging to a 3-2 edge in the seventh when they rallied for three more runs. Young belted a leadoff homered to center off Vin Mazzaro and two batters reached before Kinsler made it a 5-2 gap with a sacrifice fly off Aaron Crow. Andrus followed with a run-scoring single.

The Royals scored twice in the bottom of the frame but Beltre led off the eighth with a triple and scored on Cruz’s single to give Texas an insurance run that proved to be important.

Mike Adams allowed a run in the eighth and Joe Nathan surrendered another in the ninth before getting Alex Gordon to line out for the final out and his 29th save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Dempster has posted a 1.73 ERA in his last four turns after getting knocked around for an 8.31 mark in his first three starts with Texas. … The Rangers signed 16-year old Juremi Profar from Curacao. He is the younger brother of rookie Jurickson Profar, who is currently with Texas. … Royals DH Billy Butler went 3-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to seven games. … Kansas City SS Alcides Escobar went 0-for-4 and is 1-for-26 in his last six games.