Follow Liz on Twitter
After a tough series loss to the Yankees the Tampa Bay Rays had hopes of starting off this series against the Kansas City Royals strong. For game 1 rookie Matt Andriese was the starter for the Rays and has been outstanding in in his first 5 starts, boasting the best ERA in the rotation (2.36). The Royals had Ian Kennedy on the mound. The former San Diego Padre, has wasted no time becoming familiar with AL.
The Royals opened the scoring in the 2nd with a ground out RBI by Cheslor Cuthbert to score Kendrys Morales, 1-0 Royals. The rays tied it up 1-1 on a similar play by Corey Dickerson that allowed Logan Morrison to score a run. In the 5th Jarrod Dyson stole 3rd base and on a throwing error by catcher Hank Conger was able to score another run, 2-1 Royals. The Rays were quiet until the 8th when Steven Souza Jr singled to short and Steve Pearce was able to tie it up 2-2. The Royals quickly answered that run in the same inning but quickly scoring 4 runs on a single by Lorenzo Cain and a 3 run homer by Eric Hosmer off Erasmo Ramirez, 6-2 Royals. The Rays could not recover in the 9th.
W: Herrera (1-1) L: Ramirez: (6-3)
The Royals laid in on starter Drew Smyly early in the 1st when Cain hit a 2 run shot to center field, 2-0 Royals. In the 2nd, the Rays answered with a 3 run shot to center by Dickerson that allowed Morrison and Souza Jr. to score, 3-2 Rays. In the 3rd the Royals tied it up 3-3 on a line drive to left by Hosmer, Whit Merrifield scored. In the 4th the Royals continued the run onslaught on Smyly; Drew Butera bunted enabling Brett Eibner to score, 4-3 Royals. Cain also struck again in the 4th with a line drive to left and Cuthbert and Butera score, 6-3 Royals. But wait there’s more, Hosmer doubled home Cain and Morales singled in Hosmer, 8-3 Royals.
The Rays recovered a little ground in the 5th. After a on a triple by Brad Miller, Evan Longoria hit a line drive that allowed Miller to score, 8-4 Royals. Morales quickly took back the little ground gained with a 2 run homer to right field and Hosmer will score, 10-4 Royals. A glimmer of hope for the Rays happened in the 9th when Longoria doubled on a fly ball to center, Taylor Motter was walked, and so was Morrison’ the bases were loaded for Dickerson. On a single to 2nd, Dickerson got on base when the ball was deflected off Hosmer and Longoria scored, 10-5 Royals. That is where the scoring stopped. With bases loaded, Mikie Mahtook struck out and Curt Casali flied out. That was game.
W: Gee (2-2) L: Smyly (2-7) S: Davis (15)
Game 3 has Chris Archer taking the hill for the Rays. He has had a rough season, but every game is a chance for redemption. The Royals waste no time in starting to ruin Archer’s night. Merrifield doubled and Cain hit a line drive single to right field that allowed him to score, 1-0 Royals. Later in the 1st, Morales singled in Cain in a similar play, 2-0 Royals. The 2nd inning is no different than the 1st. Butera hit a ground ball to score Omar Infante and on a fielding error by Longoria Butera will score, 4-0 Royals. In the 3rd the Rays will score their 1st run on a single by MIller so Mahtook will score, 4-1 Royals. Catcher Casali does his part in the 5th and hits a single home run narrowing the Royals lead to 4-2. The Royals lead lessons again in the 6th when with Souza Jr. on 3rd, Desmond Jennings hits a little tapper to 3rd, gets thrown out but Souza is able to score 4-3 Royals. The 6th inning also saw another run for the Royals of the bat of Alcides Escobar to score Jarrod Dyson, 5-3. The runs keep coming for the Royals in the 7th when Infante hits a sac fly to score Cain, 6-3. Former Rays starting pitcher turned elite closer came in for the Royals in the 9th. After 2 quick outs Casali and Brandon Guyer get on base, so with 2 on, Miller batting. On a wild pitch by Davis, the runners advance, but Miller grounds out to 1st and that is game. Royals win 6-3. The Rays were swept for the 2nd time this season.
W: Duffy (1-0) L: Archer (3-7) S: Davis (16)
