Salvador Perez hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning that carried the Kansas City Royals to a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
Perez's 16th homer came off Xavier Cedeno (3-3) after a single by Eric Hosmer. It lifted the Royals to their 12th win in their last 13 games against Tampa Bay.
Chris Young (3-8) got the win in relief, and Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth for his third save.
The Rays scored twice in the fifth off starter Yordano Ventura without hitting the ball to the outfield. Logan Forsythe walked and later scored on Kevin Kiermaier's bunt single. After Brad Miller's infield single, Desmond Jennings scored Kiermaier with a groundout to shortstop.
Forsythe had three hits for the Rays, who left 11 on base and went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position.
Ventura pitched five innings, giving up two runs, six hits and four walks.
Rays starter Matt Andriese pitched four innings in his first start since June 25, giving up one run on three hits while striking out three. Andriese returned to the rotation following Monday's trade of Matt Moore to the San Francisco Giants.
Perez has 20 RBIs in his last 20 games and a 14-game hitting streak against Tampa Bay.
DISAPPOINTED LONGO
Tampa Bay slugger Evan Longoria said it was disappointing to see Moore, INF Steve Pearce and OF Brandon Guyer traded in separate deals Monday that netted SS Matt Duffy from San Francisco and five prospects.
"You see three guys like those three guys leave sometimes it's a little tough to stomach," Longoria said. "We'll move forward and hopefully the guys we got in return will be the players that we expect."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: RHP Luke Hochevar had season-ending surgery to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome. The Royals expect him to be recovered by spring training. ... LHP Mike Minor, coming back from left shoulder surgery, struck out five and allowed two hits over 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his second rehab start for Triple-A Omaha.
Rays: OF Mikie Mahtook (fractured left hand) went 1 for 3 with a walk in his first rehab game with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Rays. ... Touted shortstop prospect Daniel Robertson has been placed on the disabled list with Triple-A Durham.
UP NEXT
Edinson Volquez (8-9) will make his team-leading 23rd start for the Royals on Wednesday night against Jake Odorizzi (5-5), who is working on a steak of 14 2/3 scoreless innings for the Rays.
