Guyer, Kiermaier hit HRs help Rays beat Royals 3-2
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Brandon Guyer and Kevin Kiermaier homered, and the Tampa Bay bullpen held the Kansas City Royals to one hit over five innings Sunday in the Rays' 3-2 win.
Kiermaier's sixth-inning homer off Luke Hochevar (1-1) broke a 2-2 tie. It was Kiermaier's second homer in two games and sixth of the season.
Xavier Cedeno (3-1) got the win in relief while Brad Boxberger pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Four of Kansas City's seven hits came during a two-run third that included RBIs by Ben Zobrist and Lorenzo Cain.
The AL Central-leading Royals, who lost for only the sixth time in 23 games, had a chance to tie it in the eighth when Rays first baseman James Loney completed a double play by throwing Zobrist out at the plate.
Rays starter Nathan Karns gave up two runs on six hits while striking out five. It was the rookie right-hander's 19th start in which he has given up two runs or fewer, most in the AL.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Kansas City starter Danny Duffy gave up two runs while striking out six in five innings.
Guyer led off the third with a homer off Duffy, his sixth of the season.
By salvaging the final game of a three-game series, Tampa Bay prevented the Royals from a 7-0 sweep of their season series, a feat they have not accomplished since going 12-0 against Baltimore in 1988.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: OF Alex Rios, out of the lineup for the second straight game with a virus, was sent back to Kansas City. ... RHP Ryan Madson has been resting since Aug. 22 to recover from a dead-arm period.
Rays: OF Steven Souza Jr. (broken left hand) is hitting off a tee and doing soft toss. He expects to be back in mid-September.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Johnny Cueto (9-9) looks to end a personal two-game skid when he faces Detroit RHP Justin Verlander (2-6) in the opener of a nine-game homestand Tuesday night. Verlander is coming off a 5-0 shutout Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels in which he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (11-10) will go against Orioles LHP Wei-Yin Chin (8-6) Monday night to start a three-game series in Baltimore.