stormy times

There was a testy moment in Monday’s Texas-Kansas City game, ignited by a pitch thrown by Royals right-hander Louis Coleman. The former Pillow Academy standout from Schlater plunked the Rangers’ Nelson Cruz in the ninth inning. Cruz, who had earlier blasted one of four Texas homers off KC starter Bruce Chen, didn’t like it. Both benches emptied, but order was rather quickly restored with no ejections. Then Michael Young took Coleman deep to cap Texas’ 8-4 victory. Coleman has allowed nine homers in 43 innings this season, his second in the majors. He had a very good rookie season, posting a 2.87 ERA in 59 2/3 innings, but hasn’t been as effective in 2012, with a 4.19. Truth is, it’s been a rocky year all the way around for former Jackson Met Ned Yost’s Royals (60-74). Wonder if he’ll weather the storm. P.S. Andrelton Simmons went 1-for-3 in his one-game rehab stint with the Mississippi Braves, who lost their season finale on Monday at Mobile. Simmons is expected to make a stop at Class A Rome before returning to Atlanta. … Good to see former M-Braves star Martin Prado back at second base — his best position — as a replacement for the benched Dan Uggla.