Royals 5, Rays 3: Alcides Escobar recorded three hits and an RBI while Alex Gordon knocked in a pair of runs as visiting Kansas City edged Tampa Bay for its 10th win in 12 games.
Royals starter Wade Davis (4-5) gave up two runs and five hits over six innings to beat his former team, winning for the first time since May 15. Jeff Francoeur homered while Billy Butler added two hits and an RBI for Kansas City, which took three of four in the series.
Jose Lobaton hit a solo homer with one out in the ninth inning off Royals closer Greg Holland, but the right-hander struck out the other three batters he faced for his 14th save. Tampa Bay starter Roberto Hernandez (4-7) yielded four runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings to take the loss.
Butler’s RBI single in the first gave Kansas City the lead before an RBI double by Luke Scott and Desmond Jennings’ run-scoring single put the Rays in front 2-1 in the bottom of the frame. Davis allowed two hits over his final five innings and the Royals tied it at 2 in the fifth when Francoeur hammered a 3-2 pitch from Hernandez into the left-field seats.
Elliot Johnson doubled with two outs in the sixth and scored on Escobar’s run-scoring single before Gordon plated another with a single for a 4-2 Kansas City lead. Escobar doubled to start the eighth and later scored on Gordon’s sacrifice fly to push the lead to three.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Tampa Bay RHP Alex Cobb was released from the hospital Sunday after suffering a mild concussion when he was struck on the right ear by an Eric Hosmer line drive in Saturday’s game. Cobb was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list and RHP Josh Lueke was recalled from Triple-A Durham to take his spot on the roster. … Kansas City C Salvador Perez went 0-for-5, ending an 11-game hitting streak. … Johnson is 10-for-23 with two homers in six games against his former team this season.
Kansas City | Tampa Bay | |
Wade Davis | Player | Roberto Hernandez |
Win | W/L | Loss |
6.0 | IP | 5.2 |
4 | Strikeouts | 2 |
5 | Hits | 9 |
3.00 | ERA | 6.35 |
Kansas City | Tampa Bay | |
Alcides Escobar | Player | Jose Lobaton |
3 | Hits | 1 |
1 | RBI | 1 |
0 | HR | 1 |
4 | TB | 4 |
.750 | Avg | .500 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Kansas City | 11 | 1 | 17 | .289 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Tampa Bay | 7 | 1 | 12 | .206 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 |