Paulo Orlando belted a game-ending grand slam for Kansas City to beat Tampa Bay 9-5 in the opener of a doubleheader, and Alcides Escobar’s bases-clearing double helped them to a 7-1 win over the Rays in the nightcap on Tuesday. The Royals loaded the bases with two outs, and forced home a run when Alex Gordon was hit by a pitch.
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Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (strained left oblique) made his second rehab start Monday at Triple-A Charlotte: He allowed two hits and a walk in 5 2-3 scoreless innings.
Gordon’s injury came as he was chasing Logan Forsythe’s inside-the-park homer, but Dyson countered with another inside-the-park homer two innings later.
Despite blowing the save, Greg Holland earned the win, allowing a run on a hit and two walks while striking out two. The last time that occurred was May 26, 1997 – Sammy Sosa, Cubs, and Tony Womack, Pirates.
Archer and Boxberger will be the only players representing the Rays at the All-Star Game, as no Tampa Bay fielders were elected as reserves and none were selected as candidates for the Final Vote.
Jeremy Guthrie (6-5, 5.42) will try to deliver another win for Kansas City. He followed with a changeup to Orlando, who had recently been recalled from Triple-A, and watched it soar into the bullpen in left field.
In a scary moment for AL Central-leading Kansas City, Gordon had to be carted off the field in the fourth inning of a 9-7 victory over Tampa Bay. The Rays’ ace hobbled around a bit but stayed in the game, and appeared to be fine when he fanned Dyson for the second out. After a predictable Alex Rios failure at the plate, Omar Infante – who is hitting.311/.327/.377 over his last 21 games – picked everyone up with an RBI single to give the Royals a 5-4 lead.
“Another great start by him”, Yost said. Archer, who gave up only four earned runs in 46 2/3 innings during seven previous road starts, yielded seven runs in the first five innings Wednesday. 500 for the first time since they were 24-25 on May 25.
Yost also said right-hander Yordano Ventura, who is on the disabled list with ulnar nerve inflammation, will be activated Thursday and start. The Rays had just one All-Star (David Price) in 2014 after having at least two each year from 2008 to 2013. Matt Moore hit Gordon with the bases loaded, scoring Orlando.
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Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (left flexor strain) was supposed to throw 60 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday. Nathan Karns pitches for the Rays.
