The Royals (11-20) earned a rare doubleheader sweep over the Tampa Bay Rays (19-11) with an 8-2 rout in Wednesday's second game of the doubleheader. It was the first time Kansas City had swept a traditional doubleheader since September 13, 2008, when they did so in Cleveland against the Indians.
After Kansas City got a 3-2 win in the first game, they wasted no time taking a lead in this one. They scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning for the second consecutive game, an unexpected trend for Tampa Bay. The Rays had allowed four first inning runs all season coming into Wednesday - but the Royals found a way to score six runs in two games in the first inning.
From there the Royals were able to get to Blake Snell (2-3, 4.31) for seven earned runs in three plus innings of work before being pulled after allowing the first three batters of the fourth inning to reach. Wilmer Font came in out of the bullpen and allowed the inherited runners to score before settling in to work fthree innings in which he allowed just one earned run of his own.
After Kansas City had the 8-0 lead, they got quality pitching from Glenn Sparkman (1-1, 3.95) - the righty pitched seven shutout innings, allowing three hits while striking out six and walking one. In the ninth inning the Rays got two solo home runs - one from Ji-Man Choi, and the other from Daneil Robertson - to avoid the shutout, but the Royals were able to finish up a six-run win and complete the doubleheader sweep.
Tampa Bay now looks to salvage a split of the four game series with Kansas City as they wrap up the series on Thursday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:15 PM - you can hear it all, beginning with Steve Carney & The Inside Pitch at 1, on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your home of the Rays.