ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Michael Wacha delivered a masterful performance against his former club, spinning seven stellar innings to guide the Kansas City Royals to a tight 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Tropicana Field.
Wacha (5-5) was in control from the jump, scattering six hits and a single walk while striking out five. The veteran right-hander repeatedly danced out of danger, holding the Rays completely hitless (0-for-7) with runners in scoring position. He earned his American League-leading 11th quality start of the season.
Kansas City struck first in the top of the second inning. After Michael Massey drew a rare walk off Rays starter Drew Rasmussen—only his second free pass issued over his last four starts—Lane Thomas immediately cashed him in with a booming RBI double to open the scoring.
Rasmussen (6-4) settled down beautifully after the rocky start, retiring 10 consecutive Royals batters. However, the Royals managed to scratch across what proved to be the winning run in the fifth. Nick Loftin singled, promptly stole second base, and came around to score on a clutch, two-out single from Carter Jensen.
The Rays finally broke through against Wacha in the bottom of the fifth. Richie Palacios kept the inning alive with a two-out walk and scored all the way from first base on a sharp double by Yandy Díaz.
That was all the offense Tampa Bay could muster. The Rays squandered scoring opportunities in five of the first seven innings, stranding five runners overall. In the eighth, Jensen flashed his defensive tools by throwing out pinch-runner Victor Mesa Jr. trying to steal second, wiping away any hopes of a late-inning rally.
Following Jensen’s fifth-inning RBI, Rays pitching completely shut the door, retiring the final 14 Royals in order. Kansas City finished the night with just four hits—including a bizarre first-inning double by Maikel Garcia that deflected off the Tropicana Field catwalk and was misplayed by shortstop Ben Williamson. Chandler Simpson provided a bright spot for the Rays with a two-hit night.
Royals closer Alex Lange entered in the ninth and pitched a flawless, 1-2-3 frame to lock down his sixth save of the year. With the victory, Kansas City has now won four of its last five games.
UP NEXT
The series continues Tuesday night. The Rays will send ace lefty Shane McClanahan (6-4, 3.33 ERA) to the mound, while the Royals counter with right-hander Luinder Avila (2-3, 5.50 ERA).
