"This was the breaking point. Joakim Soria knew that better than anyone after another meltdown in the ninth inning. Another blown save. Another crushing loss instead of a much-needed victory.

So Soria sought out Royals manager Ned Yost after allowing three ninth-inning runs in Monday's 10-8 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. And Soria admitted the obvious.

It's time to back off.

"I went to his office and told him it's the right time to do it," Soria said. "I don't want to be (the reason for) this losing streak. The team is playing really well, and they need a man who can go after (the other team). Right now, that's not (me)."

Yost agreed.

"It's time to step up and make a change," he said, "and let (Soria) take a step back and get himself together so he can take that closer's role over again in the near future."

Yost identified rookie Aaron Crow as Soria's primary replacement. Crow is the logical choice after going 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in 22 games.

"I don't want to pile a bunch of consecutive days and consecutive innings on him," Yost cautioned. "We'll start with Aaron and kind of go day by day. But on days that he's rested and feels good, it'll be Aaron Crow for the time being."

The move comes after Soria turned a ninth-inning lead into a loss for the third time in seven days. He has four blown saves in his last five opportunities after never blowing more than three saves in any of the three previous seasons.

"I know I can do this," said Soria, whose 6.55 ERA is a stark contrast to his 2.01 career mark entering the season. "I know I'm the type of person who never gives up. This is not giving up.

"This is a time to take a break and rebuild everything I've done and to try to figure out what is going on."

Soria met with Yost after blowing a one-run lead Sunday in a 7-6 loss at Texas."