ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A couple of solo home runs from unlikely sources
and four strong innings of relief were just enough for the Tampa Bay Rays to get their first and only win of the season over the Kansas City Royals.
Brandon Guyer and Kevin Kiermaier homered, and four Tampa Bay pitchers held the Royals to one hit over the final five innings Sunday in the Rays' 3-2 win.
By salvaging the final game of a three-game series, the Rays prevented the Royals from a 7-0 sweep of their season series, a feat they have not accomplished since going 12-0 against Baltimore in 1988. The AL Central-leading Royals lost for only the sixth time in 23 games.
"They're kind of firing on all cylinders right now and we need to get to that point," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We needed this win because we've had some frustrating losses, no doubt. We needed to bounce back and get a win in a tight ball game."
Kiermaier's sixth-inning homer off Luke Hochevar (1-1) broke a 2-2 tie. It was Kiermaier's second homer in two games and seventh of the season.
Xavier Cedeno (3-1) got the win in relief while Brad Boxberger pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.
Four of Kansas City's seven hits came during a two-run third that included RBI by Ben Zobrist and Lorenzo Cain. The Royals had a chance to tie it in the eighth when Rays first baseman James Loney turned a double play by throwing Zobrist out at the plate after fielding a bouncer the Royals thought was foul.
"A game shouldn't be decided on a play like that," said Kendrys Morales, who never left the batting circle and was tagged by Rays catcher Rene Rivera. "It's a little bit frustrating. That play should be reviewable."
"I think we had some luck on our side right there," Kiermaier said. "But for us to close out a game today was great because we've struggled doing that lately."
Rays starter Nathan Karns gave up two runs on six hits while striking out five. It was the rookie right-hander's 19th start in which he has given up two runs or fewer, most in the AL.
Kansas City starter Danny Duffy gave up two runs while striking out six in five innings.
Guyer led off the third with a homer on an 0-2 pitch from Duffy, his sixth of the season.
"A lot of my homers this year have come with two strikes," said Guyer, who had three hits and scored twice. "I choke up on the bat and just stay simple, put it in play. That's when a lot of the power comes, but on that one I wasn't thinking home run at all."
BULLPEN SERIES
Kiermaier's home run off Hochevar accounted for the only run given up by the Royals' bullpen in the series. ... The Rays' bullpen has given up only one run over 17 2/3 innings in the last four games. ... Boxberger took the AL lead with his 32nd save.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: OF Alex Rios, out of the lineup for the second straight game with a virus, was sent back to Kansas City. ... RHP Ryan Madson has been resting since Aug. 22 to recover from a dead-arm period.
Rays: OF Steven Souza Jr. (broken left hand) is hitting off a tee and doing soft toss. He expects to be back in mid-September.
UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Johnny Cueto (9-9) looks to end a personal two-game skid when he faces Detroit RHP Justin Verlander (2-6) in the opener of a nine-game homestand Tuesday night. Verlander is coming off a 5-0 shutout Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels in which he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (11-10) will go against Orioles LHP Wei-Yin Chin (8-6) Monday night to start a three-game series in Baltimore.
Brandon Guyer and Kevin Kiermaier homered, and four Tampa Bay pitchers held the Royals to one hit over the final five innings Sunday in the Rays' 3-2 win.
By salvaging the final game of a three-game series, the Rays prevented the Royals from a 7-0 sweep of their season series, a feat they have not accomplished since going 12-0 against Baltimore in 1988. The AL Central-leading Royals lost for only the sixth time in 23 games.
"They're kind of firing on all cylinders right now and we need to get to that point," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We needed this win because we've had some frustrating losses, no doubt. We needed to bounce back and get a win in a tight ball game."
Kiermaier's sixth-inning homer off Luke Hochevar (1-1) broke a 2-2 tie. It was Kiermaier's second homer in two games and seventh of the season.
Xavier Cedeno (3-1) got the win in relief while Brad Boxberger pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.
Four of Kansas City's seven hits came during a two-run third that included RBI by Ben Zobrist and Lorenzo Cain. The Royals had a chance to tie it in the eighth when Rays first baseman James Loney turned a double play by throwing Zobrist out at the plate after fielding a bouncer the Royals thought was foul.
"A game shouldn't be decided on a play like that," said Kendrys Morales, who never left the batting circle and was tagged by Rays catcher Rene Rivera. "It's a little bit frustrating. That play should be reviewable."
"I think we had some luck on our side right there," Kiermaier said. "But for us to close out a game today was great because we've struggled doing that lately."
Rays starter Nathan Karns gave up two runs on six hits while striking out five. It was the rookie right-hander's 19th start in which he has given up two runs or fewer, most in the AL.
Kansas City starter Danny Duffy gave up two runs while striking out six in five innings.
Guyer led off the third with a homer on an 0-2 pitch from Duffy, his sixth of the season.
"A lot of my homers this year have come with two strikes," said Guyer, who had three hits and scored twice. "I choke up on the bat and just stay simple, put it in play. That's when a lot of the power comes, but on that one I wasn't thinking home run at all."
BULLPEN SERIES
Kiermaier's home run off Hochevar accounted for the only run given up by the Royals' bullpen in the series. ... The Rays' bullpen has given up only one run over 17 2/3 innings in the last four games. ... Boxberger took the AL lead with his 32nd save.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: OF Alex Rios, out of the lineup for the second straight game with a virus, was sent back to Kansas City. ... RHP Ryan Madson has been resting since Aug. 22 to recover from a dead-arm period.
Rays: OF Steven Souza Jr. (broken left hand) is hitting off a tee and doing soft toss. He expects to be back in mid-September.
UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Johnny Cueto (9-9) looks to end a personal two-game skid when he faces Detroit RHP Justin Verlander (2-6) in the opener of a nine-game homestand Tuesday night. Verlander is coming off a 5-0 shutout Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels in which he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (11-10) will go against Orioles LHP Wei-Yin Chin (8-6) Monday night to start a three-game series in Baltimore.
1:10PM,EDT,August 30,2015
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Kansas City - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan Karns pitching for Tampa Bay | KC | TB |
| Escobar flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Zobrist flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Cain struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Danny Duffy pitching for Kansas City | KC | TB |
| Guyer reached on infield single to third, Guyer to second on throwing error by third baseman Moustakas. | 0 | 0 |
| Nava walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Longoria struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Forsythe flied out to right, Guyer to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Butler singled to right, Guyer scored, Nava to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Beckham struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Nathan Karns pitching for Tampa Bay | KC | TB |
| Hosmer singled to left. | 0 | 1 |
| K. Morales flied out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Moustakas flied out to right. | 0 | 1 |
| Orlando struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Danny Duffy pitching for Kansas City | KC | TB |
| Arencibia struck out looking. | 0 | 1 |
| Kiermaier struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Rivera grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Nathan Karns pitching for Tampa Bay | KC | TB |
| Infante singled to left center. | 0 | 1 |
| Butera reached on bunt single to catcher, Infante to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Zobrist singled to right center, Infante scored, Butera to third. | 1 | 1 |
| Cain singled to right, Butera scored, Zobrist to third. | 2 | 1 |
| Cain stole second. | 2 | 1 |
| Hosmer struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| K. Morales walked. | 2 | 1 |
| Moustakas grounded out to first. | 2 | 1 |
| 2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Danny Duffy pitching for Kansas City | KC | TB |
| Guyer homered to left (383 feet). | 2 | 2 |
| Nava flied out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Longoria flied out to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Forsythe singled to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Butler flied out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Nathan Karns pitching for Tampa Bay | KC | TB |
| Orlando singled to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Infante fouled out to third. | 2 | 2 |
| Orlando caught stealing second, catcher to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Butera grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Danny Duffy pitching for Kansas City | KC | TB |
| Beckham struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Arencibia singled to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Kiermaier struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Rivera flied out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Nathan Karns pitching for Tampa Bay | KC | TB |
| Escobar grounded out to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Zobrist safe at first on error by pitcher Karns. | 2 | 2 |
| Zobrist to second on wild pitch by Karns. | 2 | 2 |
| Cain grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| Hosmer struck out looking. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Danny Duffy pitching for Kansas City | KC | TB |
| Guyer singled to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Nava flied out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Guyer caught stealing second, pitcher to first to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Longoria walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Forsythe singled to right, Longoria to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Butler grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Xavier Cedeno pitching for Tampa Bay | KC | TB |
| Cedeño relieved Karns. | 2 | 2 |
| K. Morales grounded out to third. | 2 | 2 |
| Moustakas flied out to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Orlando grounded out to second. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Luke Hochevar pitching for Kansas City | KC | TB |
| Hochevar relieved Duffy. | 2 | 2 |
| Beckham struck out looking. | 2 | 2 |
| Arencibia popped out to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Kiermaier homered to right (377 feet). | 2 | 3 |
| Rivera flied out to center. | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | KC | TB |
| Colomé relieved Cedeño. | 2 | 3 |
| Infante flied out to center. | 2 | 3 |
| Butera struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Escobar flied out to right. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Luke Hochevar pitching for Kansas City | KC | TB |
| Guyer grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 3 |
| Nava struck out looking. | 2 | 3 |
| Longoria singled to left. | 2 | 3 |
| Forsythe grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Longoria out at second. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | KC | TB |
| Nava in left field. | 2 | 3 |
| Loney at first base. | 2 | 3 |
| Zobrist walked. | 2 | 3 |
| Cain struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Hosmer singled to right, Zobrist to third. | 2 | 3 |
| K. Morales grounded into double play, first to catcher, Zobrist out at home, Hosmer to second. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Chris Young pitching for Kansas City | KC | TB |
| Young relieved Hochevar. | 2 | 3 |
| Loney fouled out to third. | 2 | 3 |
| Cabrera hit for Beckham. | 2 | 3 |
| Cabrera grounded out to first. | 2 | 3 |
| Arencibia struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Brad Boxberger pitching for Tampa Bay | KC | TB |
| Cabrera at shortstop. | 2 | 3 |
| Boxberger relieved Colomé. | 2 | 3 |
| Moustakas grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 3 |
| Orlando fouled out to first. | 2 | 3 |
| Infante lined out to center. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City Royals | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Escobar SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .260 | .301 | .324 |
| Zobrist RF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 | .287 | .373 | .467 |
| Cain CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 18 | .312 | .368 | .483 |
| Hosmer 1B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 | .311 | .372 | .471 |
| K. Morales DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .285 | .352 | .459 |
| Moustakas 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .283 | .349 | .448 |
| Orlando LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .235 | .260 | .403 |
| Infante 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .217 | .232 | .307 |
| Butera C | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .209 | .242 | .264 |
| Totals | 33 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 137 | |||
| BATTING RBI: Zobrist (47), Cain (58) Royals RISP: 2-8 (Zobrist 1-1, Moustakas 0-1, K. Morales 0-1, Escobar 0-1, Hosmer 0-2, Cain 1-2) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Cain (26, 2nd base off Karns/Rivera) CS: Orlando (3, 2nd base by Karns/Rivera) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Moustakas (10, throw) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL |
| Attendance | 18,634 (60% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:57 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Clint Fagan, First Base - Alan Porter, Second Base - Jeff Kellogg, Third Base - Brian O'Nora |
No comments:
Post a Comment