By MATT PIKE
Michael Wacha allowed just one run over seven strong quality innings to push the Kansas City Royals past the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 at Tropicana Field.
Wacha, who improved to 5-5 with the win, allowed six hits, walked one and struck out five over the seven innings. The former Rays pitcher held Tampa Bay to 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and didn’t allow a run until Yandy Díaz’s two-out double in the fifth inning plated Richie Palacios from first base.
Kansas City got on the board first though in the second inning when Michael Massey drew a walk, just the second issued over a four-start stretch by Rays starter Drew Rasmussen, before Massey scored from first on a double by Lane Thomas. From there, Rasmussen sat down 10 in a row before Carter Jensen’s fifth-inning single drove in Nick Loftin, who’d singled and stole second for a 2-0 lead.
After Jensen’s hit, which extended the rookie catcher's hit streak to 13 games, Rays pitchers combined to retire the final 14 batters in order, but Tampa Bay couldn’t touch Wacha who now leads the American League with 11 quality starts this season. Wacha got 10 ground-ball outs and Kansas City earned its fourth win in five games. Royals closer Alex Lange pitched a perfect ninth to record his sixth save.
In all, Kansas City managed just four hits off Rays pitching from four different hitters, including Maikel Garcia’s first-inning fly ball that caromed off the Tropicana Field catwalk and became a double when Rays shortstop Ben Williamson couldn’t make the catch.
Kansas City and Tampa Bay continue their series tomorrow. Luinder Avila (2-3, 5.50 ERA, 33K's) makes the start for the Royals against Shane McClanahan (6-4, 3.33 ERA, 69K's) for the Rays. First pitch is at 5:40pm, pregame at 5 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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