The Tampa Bay Rays’ biggest loss came long before a rare defeat.

The major league-leading Rays lost ace Shane McClanahan to mid-back tightness in a 6-5 loss to Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said there were no plans for additional tests.

McClanahan was looking to become the majors’ first 12-game winner of the year before leaving with two outs in the fourth. The left-hander, 11-1 this season, gave up two runs, four hits and two walks in a 66-pitch outing.

Maikel Garcia drew a walk from Pete Fairbanks (0-2) to start the ninth, then stole second and third. After Fairbanks got a pair of strikeouts, Garcia scored on MJ Melendez’s infield single down the first-base line to put the Royals ahead 6-5. The Royals stole seven bases overall.

Aroldis Chapman (3-2) struck out the side during a perfect eighth, topping out at 102.6 mph. Scott Barlow got three outs for his ninth save.

Kansas City took a 3-2 lead in the seventh on Drew Waters’ solo homer and his two-run eighth-inning single off Jason Adam tied it at 5.

Francisco Mejía hit a homer leading the seventh and Randy Arozarena had a two-run single as Tampa Bay went up 5-3. Arozarena also had an RBI single during a two-run first and has 53 RBIs.

Former Tampa Bay coach Matt Quatraro faced his old team for the first time as the Royals manager.

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Rays RHP Zach Eflin (8-3) was set to face RHP Zack Greinke (1-7) on Friday night.