Chris Archer threw eight shutout innings & struck out 11 Royals batters as the Tampa Bay Rays ended a three game losing streak by beating Kansas City 12-1. The Rays beat up on Royals' starter Jason Hammel with each player in the starting lineup collecting at least one hit for the second straight game. And the Rays got their power from Logan Morrison & Rickie Weeks who hit back to back home runs. Plus once the Royals went to their bullpen, the Rays tacked on five more runs, four of those runs coming on a grand slam by Colby Rasmus. The Rasmus grand slam in the eight inning off Royals reliever Peter Moylan was his sixth career grand slam.
The Rays scored their first run on a weird sacrifice fly double play, an over the shoulder catch by Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar. Corey Dickerson scored on the catch but Evan Longoria was caught off first base for a double play, which ended the inning. In the third inning, the Rays added three runs, all by way of the long ball, first a two run home run by Morrison, his team-leading ninth home run of the year. Then Rickie Weeks followed Morrison's long bomb to center field, with his second home run of the year.
While Archer cruised most of the evening, one of his 101 pitches struck a nerve with Royals catcher Salvador Perez, when Perez, who had two of the five hits off Archer was hit in the hip by a pitch in the seventh. Perez reacted angrily, exchanged a few words with Archer on his way to first base but nothing further occurred. And Perez was removed from the game for a pinch runner.
The Rays will go for a split of the four game series with the Royals tomorrow. Jake Odorizzi (2-1 2.88) will take the mound for the Rays while the Royals will send out lefty Jason Vargas (4-1 1.19). Pregame coverage starts on WDAE at noon with Steve Carney & the Inside Pitch. First pitch will be at 1:10pm.