Brandon Lowe hit a triple that brought in three runs during the seventh inning, helping the Tampa Bay Rays end the Kansas City Royals’ eight-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory on Sunday.
The Rays had previously lost six games in a row, making this win especially satisfying. Lowe commented, “To get a win that way, to show up in those high stress situations, it feels good and I feel like it really ignites everybody around it.”
Kansas City’s pitcher Michael Wacha, who had a perfect game going until the sixth inning, lost his momentum after giving up hits to Harold Ramírez and Isaac Paredes in the seventh. Lowe capitalized on the opportunity and delivered with a timely hit.
This victory was secured with Garrett Cleavinger pitching effectively and Pete Fairbanks closing the game for his fifth save of the season.
The Royals’ manager, Matt Quatraro, acknowledged the Rays’ performance, saying, “It was a good ballgame. Really well pitched game. They came up with a big hit when they needed it, and we fought back and just came up a little bit short.”
Despite a strong performance from Wacha, who retired the first 15 batters he faced, the Royals couldn’t maintain their lead. Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to nine games with a homer in the sixth inning, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
In the end, Witt’s attempt to score in the eighth inning was thwarted by a strong defensive play from Randy Arozarena, ensuring the Rays’ victory.
