With 3-2 victory over Rays, Royals win consecutive games for first time since June

Consider August a throwback month — so far.

Salvador Perez clubbed a go-head, two-run homer in the top of the seventh. The bullpen delivered a shutdown performance. On the heels of a July implosion, the Royals crafted a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night.

The performance was reminiscent of something from 2015. The Royals accomplished something that had not been done since final days of June: They won consecutive games as the calendar turned to August.

“July wasn’t good for us,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “But we’re hoping August is a lot better.”

Kansas City had not pieced together back-to-back victories since taking two games in St. Louis on June 29-30. July had featured just seven wins in 26 games. On Tuesday, the Royals won another low-scoring affair against the Rays.

Starter Yordano Ventura allowed two runs in five innings. The bullpen seized control for the final four frames. The pivotal appearance belonged to rookie left-hander Matt Strahm, who delivered a shutdown outing in the bottom of the seventh, escaping a jam with two strikeouts.

“He looks like he belongs,” said reliever Joakim Soria, who threw a scoreless eighth inning. “And it was a really, really good outing for him and the entire bullpen.”

With Luke Hochevar and Wade Davis on the disabled list, Yost looked down at his bullpen and saw a patch-work unit. The injuries offered him some creative license. So in just his second career appearance, Strahm took the baton from reliever Chris Young with two runners on and one out. A week ago, Strahm was pitching at Class AA Northwest Arkansas. On Tuesday, he was tasked with protecting a one-run lead.

Strahm began by freezing Rays shortstop Brad Miller with a 96 mph fastball. He followed by striking out Desmond Jennings on a fastball that touched 97 mph. As his parents watched from their seats at Tropicana Field, Strahm bolted off the mound and headed back to the dugout.

Tim and Linda Strahm had traveled from West Fargo, N.D., to see their son in a major-league uniform for the first time. Strahm, 24, offered his father a perfect birthday gift, rolling through a tense situation.

“With Wade being down, it’s kind of audition time here a little bit,” Yost said.

Strahm said: “I knew the situation. Ned told it to me when I got out there. And I was just out there ready to go.”

The escape came just minutes after Perez homered off left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno in the top of the seventh. Eric Hosmeropened the inning with a single. Perez saw an 89 mph fastball and deposited a baseball into the seats in left field.

“Huge,” Yost said.

One day after Danny Duffy crafted one of the finest starts in franchise history, Ventura worked through five innings, allowing two runs and six hits. The performance was serviceable, yet Ventura battled his mechanics all night. He required 103 pitches to maneuver through five innings and issued four walks. He threw just 57 strikes before an elevating pitch count forced manager Yost to call on Young in the sixth inning.

For four innings, Ventura skirted around danger. He coaxed an inning-ending double play in the first, working around two base runners. He escaped the third inning despite allowing two walks and two singles. Perez offered a hand by throwing out Nick Franklin on a stolen-base attempt. Raul Mondesi ended the inning with a slick play at second base.

“We talk about Duffy all the time, turning the corner,” Yost said.

“And what Duffy has done to turn the corner, he has the ability now to duplicate his mechanics. And that’s where [Ventura] gets into trouble.”

The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, manufacturing a run in a fashion that seemed throwback. With two outs, Lorenzo Cain singled to left field and stole second base. He came around to score on an RBI single up the middle from Hosmer.

The single represented Hosmer’s third hit of the road trip. He improved to just two for his last 20 before adding another hit in the top of the seventh.

In other ways, the Kansas City offense has brought its July struggles into the month of August. The Royals were facing Tampa Bay starter Matt Andriese, who was making a return to the rotation after the Rays traded left-hander Matt Moore to the San Francisco Giants on Monday. Andriese was on a limited pitch count, but the Royals managed just one run in four innings before Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash handed the ball to reliever Erasmo Ramirez.

Left fielder Alex Gordon was hitless in his first three at-bats, starting 2 for 20 on the trip. So was designated hitter Kendrys Morales, who opened the trip just 4 for 21, despite a solo homer in Monday’s series opener.

Yet, the Royals and a depleted bullpen made three runs hold up. Young worked 1  1/3 scoreless innings. Strahm struck out two. Soria worked around a double in the eighth, hitting 95 mph on the radar gun, before Kelvin Herrera recorded a save in the ninth.

After a month of digging, the Royals will not emerge from their hole in a matter of days. But after starting an eight-game road trip with a disastrous four-game sweep in Texas, they have found something here against a last-place Rays team.

On Tuesday, that meant utilizing an old formula while identifying a possible solution for the bullpen.

“It’s about opportunity, man,” Yost said. “Take advantage of it. That’s what it’s about. Here’s your opportunity.”

Royals 3, Rays 2

E: Ventura (2), Cuthbert (8). LOB: Kansas City 5, Tampa Bay 11. 2B :Orlando (14), Dickerson (19). HR: Perez (16), off Cedeno. RBIs: Hosmer (59), Perez 2 (47), Jennings (20). SB: Cain (8). CS: Franklin (1). DP: Kansas City 1, Tampa Bay 1.

Inherited runners-scored: Strahm 2-0. Holds: Strahm (1), Soria (13). WP: Ventura. Umpires: Home, Carlos Torres; First, Rob Drake; Second, Sam Holbrook; Third, Gerry Davis. Time: 3:04. Att: 12,625.

This story was originally published August 2, 2016 at 9:24 PM with the headline "With 3-2 victory over Rays, Royals win consecutive games for first time since June."