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Buck helps Royals cool off Rays

Jul 7, 2008 - 10:00 PM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Rays appeared prime to pull off another improbable comeback Monday. But a pair of home runs helped the Kansas City Royals avoid a sweep.

John Buck and Mike Aviles hit back-to-back home runs in the 10th inning, lifting the Royals to a 7-4 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Buck hit a three-run shot off Dan Wheeler (2-4) and Aviles followed with a solo homer as Kansas City ended a three-game losing streak and salvaged the finale of the four-game series.

The loss halted Tampa Bay's seven-game winning streak and was only the Rays' seventh defeat in their past 39 home games.

"Obviously we wanted to come in here and at the worst split," Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said. "We were unable to do that. But to get a win from these guys, as hot as they are, hopefully we can do some damage in our last six games before the All-Star break."

In the 10th, Billy Butler reached on rookie Evan Longoria's error and was replaced by pinch runner Esteban German, who moved to third with one out. Following an intentional walk to Ross Gload, Buck homered off the foul pole in left, giving the Royals a 6-3 lead. Aviles then homered to left.

"I hit it good and the way it was hooking made me a little nervous," Buck said. "But luckily I stayed through it just enough."

The Rays had tied the game in the bottom of the ninth when Carlos Pena hit a solo home run off Royals closer Joakim Soria.

Despite suffering only his second blown save in 25 opportunities, Soria (1-1) got the win. He also allowed a 10th-inning home run to Eric Hinske.

Aviles and David DeJesus each had three hits. DeJesus' two-run triple in the second pulled the Royals even at 2-2 and Gload added an RBI single in the third.

The Royals' bullpen maintained the slim lead until Pena's blast in the ninth.

"If you permit them to get to the back end of their bullpen, they're a real good team," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.

Kansas City starter Gil Meche allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out five.

Meche got out of a couple of early jams, as the Rays stranded five runners in the first two innings and eight through the first four.

"As bad as it looked at times, I made decent pitches here and there," Meche said. "My problem was I couldn't finish off guys."

Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza went 6 2/3 innings, yielding three runs and nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

"I didn't have my best stuff," Garza said. "The first couple of innings I was searching for something I didn't have. I just grinded it out today."

The Rays stranded 12 runners on base and were 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position.

"We had so many opportunities we needed to take advantage of and didn't," Maddon said. "We kept battling. We just didn't have the timely hitting.

"We're getting to the point where we win six of seven on a homestand and we have a bad taste in our mouth. You're not going to be perfect. Nobody's perfect in this game."