Rays 4, Royals 1
Ben Zobrist had two hits, including a two-run triple, and Jeff Niemann won his sixth straight decision as the Tampa Bay Rays finished a four-game sweep of the visiting Kansas City Royals with a 4-1 victory Thursday afternoon.
Niemann (7-4) gave up nine singles and one run over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out Alex Gordon with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth to end a major threat and has not lost since May 4.
The Rays, who finished their home stand 7-3, scored two runs after there were two out and none on in the third to take a 2-1 lead. Johnny Damon walked, Evan Longoria singled and Zobrist drilled his triple to the left-center field wall.
Melky Cabrera had three hits and finished the series 8-for-16 for the Royals, who have lost six of their last seven.
Longoria knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and extended his season-high hit streak to eight games.
Kansas City’s rookie starter Danny Duffy (3-6) allowed five hits and three runs over seven innings, matching his longest outing in the majors.
The Royals are 6-24 at Tropicana Field since 2005.