KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Scott Feldman wasn’t able to break his victory drought Thursday night, but he certainly pitched well enough to indicate he can be a big part of the Rangers’ September push toward another American League West title.

In the Rangers’ 5-4 win over the Royals in 10 innings, Feldman worked 6 1/3 innings and allowed six hits and three runs. He fanned six and didn’t allow a walk. When he left the mound in the seventh, the Rangers had a 4-3 lead and there was nobody on base. Manager Ron Washington played the lefty-versus-lefty percentages by bringing in Michael Kirkman to face Eric Hosmer.

Kirkman allowed his first homer to a lefty hitter and Feldman’s shot at a first win since Aug. 4 was suddenly gone.

But the Rangers got the victory and Feldman could reflect on a performance that figures to boost his confidence for his next start.

“I’m staying with the same approach,” Feldman said. “Tonight, I think I threw the ball pretty well. I made an adjustment after the third inning and the guys picked me up big time.”

Feldman allowed a run in the second and two more in the third as Kansas City built a 3-0 lead. But the Rangers struck quickly for three runs in the fourth and Feldman was in shutdown mode thereafter.

“I started executing my pitches better,” Feldman said. “You know that with this team, as long as you limit the damage, we’re capable of striking back pretty quickly. You saw that tonight.”

Washington was pleased with what he saw from Feldman.

“Feldman recovered,” Washington said. “He went out there and kept us in the ballgame. His sinker started working and he had a good breaking ball. He started trusting it out there tonight and it worked for him.”