The Royals collapsed in Tampa last night. They had a 2-0 lead in the ninth, when the Devil Rays took advantage of a Carlos Febles error and belted three hits to walk off with a 3-2 win. Mike MacDougal gave up a two-run triple to Al Martin to tie the game at 2-2 and Julio Lugo ended it with a single to drive in Martin. The meltdown ruined a great performance from the three previous Royal pitchers. Starter Darrell May allowed four hits and no runs in six innings of work. May also struck out six and walked one. Jason Grimsley and Curtis Leskanic pitched an inning apiece; both allowed a walk but didn’t’ give up any hits or runs. Grimsley struck out the side in the seventh inning. The Royals scored their runs in the fourth inning when Ken Harvey drove in a run with a double and Angel Berroa belted an RBI single. With the White Sox idle, the Royals lead in the A.L. Central dropped to just a half game.
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