Saturday, 4 a.m.
All Brad Keller wanted was to stop the bleeding. On the mound. From the face.
Alas, Keller could get no relief. Not from the bloody nose he suffered in the fourth inning, and not from his wild right arm. Together, the two ganged up on him in Friday night's 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
In four innings, Keller gave up four runs, four hits and walked five, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches as the Rays took an early lead.
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The Rays could have taken more advantage. They were just one-for-nine with runners in scoring position. But that one belonged to Yandy Diaz, who drove in three runs with his fourth-inning double.
"Nice to see us pick up where we left off offensively," said Rays' manager Kevin Cash. "Yandy’s been such a big part of our team the first half. He’s putting together a great season. If we’ve got men on base, he’s a pretty likable guy to be at the plate. You know he’s going to give you a good at-bat.
"He’s a very consistent hitter with his approach. He can simplify things. We’ve always talk about how he's able to hit good pitching, have good at bats against good pitching. Spoil pitches. That’s what we’re seeing right now. "
The Rays also got two hits from Brandon Lowe and two from Francisco Mejia.
Drew Rasmussen got his sixth win of the year, allowing one run and seven hits in his five innings.
“I liked the way Drew pitched," Cash said. “We knew the elements were going to be different. It was hot. He kept his composure and made his pitches. "
The Rays and Royals play again tonight at 7:10 p.m. at Kauffman Stadium. Luis Patino will pitch for the Rays against Brady Singer.