Reds starter Johnny Cueto (3-4) was touched for three runs on nine hits in seven innings of work to suffer the loss Tuesday against the Royals.
Two of three runs off Cueto came via two RBI doubles from Mike Moustakas.
"They're a good team. There are no excuses," Cueto said through a translator. "I did what I had to do."
Cueto fanned six in the defeat.
"I did my job and I expect the rest of the team to do their job," Cueto said. "You want to have a little more run support but there's nothing you can do."
Cueto returns to the mound for his next start Sunday in Cleveland.