ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- The Tampa Bay Rays committed a season-high four errors, helping the Kansas City Royal tie their most runs in a road game this year in a 7-3 blowout Monday at Tropicana Field
Tampa Bay jumped on Nathan Karns early, as Corey Dickerson's flare to left fell between Alcides Escobar and Alex Gordon for a double, and Brad Miller followed with a base hit to bring him home for a 1-0 lead.
But Karns retired the next three hitters in order, and worked out of jams in each of the next two innings. He struck out Tim Beckham, Kevin Kiermaier, and Derek Norris after Colby Rasmus tripled to lead off the second, then when Tampa Bay loaded the bases in the third, he struck out Logan Morrison and induced Steven Souza Jr. to ground into a double play.
Kansas City took control of the game in the third, as Blake Snell allowed the first five hitters to reach on hits. Drew Butera started with a solo homer to tie the game. Alcides Escobar followed with a double and scored on a base hit by Lorenzo Cain who, when Kiermaier overran the baseball for an error, raced around the diamond for a 3-1 advantage.
Snell fell behind 4-1 in the fifth after a one-out double by Eric Hosmer and a base hit by Savador Perez.
Austin Pruitt would take over for Snell after the first batter in the sixth, getting a double play from Cheslor Cuthbert, but then hitting Alex Gordon with a pitch. Gordon stole second and took third when Norris' throw went into centerfield for an error, scoring on a Butera single.
Kansas City piled on two more runs in the seventh on another throwing error by Norris and one from Dickerson.
The Rays loaded the bases again in the seventh, but only got a single run on a wild pitch, then set the score with a solo homer by Rasmus, his second of the season.
The loss drops Tampa Bay to two games under .500 at 16-18. They'll look to rebound Tuesday, as Matt Andriese (2-1, 3.09 ERA) will get the start, taking on Chris Young (0-0, 4.22 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 6:00 with The Inside Pitch, presented by Sykes Lakeland.