The Tampa Bay Rays (46-35) defeated the Kansas City Royals (38-43) 4-0 on Thursday afternoon in Kansas City. After completing the sweep, the Rays are now half a game behind the Yankees in the AL East stadnings.
Shane Baz (8-3, 4.37) pitched a career-high eight shutout innings while striking out nine and walking one on just three hits. Pete Fairbanks got the final two outs of the game to earn his fifteenth save.
The Rays got two runs in the fourth thanks to a RBI triple from Jake Mangum and a RBI single from Josh Lowe, who finished the game with three hits. Then in the sixth the Rays got back-to-back homers from Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero.
The Rays will now head to Baltimore for a three-game series beginning on Friday night. Ryan Pepiot (5-6, 3.04) is scheduled to start for the Rays and face Tomoyuki Sugano (5-4, 3.55) for Baltimore. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting Inside Pitch at 6:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES