After a Sunday doubleheader sweep of the Phillies, the Rays returned to American League play on Monday night in Kansas City. The Royals welcomed them with a Game 1 whupping, as Luke Hochevar went the distance for a complete game shutout. Hochevar allowed just seven hits and struck out eight as he quickly worked through the Rays lineup.
Alex Cobb, on the other hand, was hammered and forced to wear it by Joe Maddon. Cobb pitched eight innings and gave up all eight runs as the Rays were blasted. After the doubleheader, Maddon wanted to conserve his pen and Cobb would be the only pitcher used on Monday night, throwing 113 pitches in his eight innings of work.
For the most part, the Royals did their damage with station-to-station baseball until Eric Hosmer launched one in eighth inning to wrap the scoring on the evening. The first seven runs came in the first four innings as the Royals ripped Cobb for 13 hits.
Chris Archer, who battled some wildness in his debut against the Nats, will try to even the series on Tuesday against Bruce Chen.
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