The Tampa Bay Rays knocked off the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Wednesday. The Rays took a 2-1 lead on a Ben Zobrist sacrifice fly and a Jeff Keppinger single in the third and added insurance runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth. Zobrist picked up his second RBI with a seventh-inning double, while Keppinger finished 2-for-4 on the day. James Shields got the win, improving to 13-7 on the season. Luis Mendoza picked up the loss, dropping to 7-9 on the year. Fernando Rodney picked up his 39th save.
Shields lasted seven and two-thirds innings, scattering three runs over five hits and striking out seven. Tampa’s bullpen closed out the game, allowing only one hit in the final two-and-a-third innings.
With the win, the Rays improved to 69-55 on the year. The Royals dropped to 55-68 with the loss. Tampa trails the Yankees by 3.5 games in the American League East and currently sits atop the Wild Card standings.
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