Rays 4, Royals 1: Magical seventh ends losing skid

Thank you Brandon Lowe!

The Rays defeated the Royals 4-1 on Sunday to advance to 26-28 on the season. The win ends a miserable six game losing streak for the Rays, including being swept by the AL East rival Red Sox.

Today’s game would be a marquee pitching dual, with Starters Taj Bradley and and Michael Wacha each putting up beautiful days on the mound.

Bradley went five shutout innings allowing just one hit and three walks striking out six, while Wacha dealt six shutout innings with seven strikeouts, including five perfect innings to start the game.

The Rays wouldn’t be able to put together much offensively, with Bobby Witt Jr.’s solo home run in the sixth being the only run between the two teams through six innings.

It wouldn’t be until Wacha’s final inning that the Rays put up a huge scoring opportunity, loading the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch-hitting Brandon Lowe would take advantage with a huge three-run triple to take a 3-1 lead late in the game. Jose Siri would make it 4-1 two at-bats later with a bloop single to score Lowe.

The Royals would respond with a threat of their own putting runners on first and second with one out, however a nice gun down of Witt Jr. by Randy Arozarena at the plate on a Salvador Perez single kept the score right where it is.

Looking to avoid another scare in the ninth, the Rays put closer Pete Fairbanks into finish the game out. This is not what the Rays would get, with the Royals loading the bases with two outs and .308 hitter Witt Jr. up to bat. A 1-0 pitch would ground over to Lowe at second and secure the much needed win for the Rays,

The win allows the Rays to avoid back-to-back sweeps as they take one from Kansas City before their off day on Monday. Tampa Bay will be back in the trop on Tuesday to start their three game series against the Oakland Athletics. First pitch is set for 6:50.