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Tampa Bay rallies in last at-bat to stun Royals

Aug 11, 2011 - 6:13 AM St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Sam Fuld drove in the tying run with a triple and scored the winning run on Johnny Giavotella's throwing error during the same play, as the Tampa Bay Rays scored five times in the ninth inning to stun the Kansas City Royals, 8-7.

After scoring three runs already in the ninth to get within one, 7-6, Fuld stepped to the plate with a man on first and two outs. Fuld crushed Joakim Soria's offering to the gap in right-center field to score the tying run. Second baseman Giavotella took the cut off throw and went to third. The ball bounced towards the stands while Fuld got up from his slide and sprinted home. Fuld beat the throw home for the dramatic victory.

Matt Joyce hit a solo homer and scored twice for the Rays, who have won the first three of this four-game series. Casey Kotchman knocked in two runs.

Tampa Bay starter Wade Davis allowed four runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings. Jake McGee (1-1) picked up his first win in the majors despite giving up two runs in the ninth.

Melky Cabrera hit a three-run homer and drove in five for the Royals, who have lost five of six.

Giavotella and catcher Salvador Perez both had an RBI and scored a run. Perez went 1-for-3 in his MLB debut.

Royals starter Felipe Paulino gave up one run on three hits over five innings. Soria (5-5) was charged with three runs -- two earned -- on three hits to take the loss.

Kansas City seemed to have the game in control after Cabrera hit a three-run homer off McGee in the top of the ninth. With Alcides Escobar and Alex Gordon on base with two outs, Cabrera went deep to left for a 7-3 lead.

The Rays started their comeback off Aaron Crow. Joyce and Johnny Damon started the home ninth with back-to-back singles to put men on first and second. Soria entered the game and was greeted by Evan Longoria's RBI double to left-center field. Damon crossed the plate on Ben Zobrist's groundout. Kotchman followed with a sharp grounder to second. Giavotella stopped the ball with his backhand, but Kotchman beat the throw to first. A run scored on the infield single to cut the gap to 7-6.

After B.J. Upton struck out swinging, Fuld stepped to the plate and won the game.

"To be able to come back like that is an outstanding testament to this group of people," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

The Royals broke a scoreless tie in the fourth. Jeff Francoeur hit a one-out double to center and scored on Giavotella's triple to right-center field. Perez followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

Kansas City tacked on another run in the fifth. Escobar led off with a double to left, moved to third on Gordon's flyout and crossed the plate on Cabrera's sacrifice fly.

Joyce's solo homer to right in the home fifth cut the gap to 3-1.

Tampa Bay scored again in the sixth to make things interesting. Tim Collins started the inning on the mound. Zobrist led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Kotchman's base hit up the middle. Fuld walked to put men on first and second. Louis Coleman came in from the bullpen and walked Sean Rodriguez to load the bases with two outs. Joyce fouled out to keep it a 3-2 contest.

The Royals added a run in the seventh to go back up by two. Perez picked up his first career hit with a leadoff single to center. Escobar walked two batters later to put men on first and second with one out. J.P. Howell relieved Davis and walked Gordon to load the bases. Cabrera's sacrifice fly made it a 4-2 game.

"He was spectacular," Royals manager Ned Yost said of Perez. "We know he can catch a pop-up, we know he can pick guys off. He picked a guy off first, a guy off third and almost a guy off second. So, he had a great debut."

The Rays kept the back-and-forth battle going with a run in the eighth. With one down, Greg Holland walked Upton and gave up a single to Fuld. Pinch- hitter Desmond Jennings followed with an RBI single to right. Fuld was picked off at third and Rodriguez struck out swinging to keep it 4-3.

Game Notes

The Rays have taken four of six from the Royals this season...KC placed catcher Brayan Pena on the paternity leave list on Wednesday. To take his spot on the 25-man roster, the team selected the contract of Perez from Triple-A Omaha. The Royals also released pitcher Kyle Davies...The Rays placed outfielder Justin Ruggiano on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with left knee bursitis. To fill the roster spot, Tampa Bay recalled shortstop Reid Brignac from Triple-A Durham.