ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.
Consider August a throwback month — so far.
Salvador Perez clubbed a two-run homer in the top of the seventh. The bullpen delivered a sterling performance. And the Royals crafted a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night.
The performance was reminiscent of something vintage 2015, and the Royals accomplished something that hadn’t been done since late June: They won two straight.
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.