After taking two of three from the Chicago White Sox—the team with the best record in baseball—the Royals went to Tampa Bay and lost four straight to the Devil Rays—the team with the worst record in baseball. The nasty sweep for Kansas City ended with a 6-2 loss on Sunday afternoon.
The Royals were never really in the contest, trailing 6-0 before two runs in the top of the eighth, which merely dented the Devil Rays’ lead. In the inning, Joe McEwing drove in a run with a single to score mark Teahen and David Dejesus hit a sacrifice fly to score John Buck. That was all the Royals could muster in the loss.
Jose Lima (4-9) was the first of six pitchers manager Buddy Bell used on Sunday. He lasted five innings and was charged with three runs off six hits and five walks. Lima allowed a solo home run to Travis Lee in the second inning—it was the 23rd home run he’s given up this season.
In the fourth inning, Carl Crawford drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and in the sixth, Crawford drove in what proved to be the game-winning run with an RBI single.
The Royals now have the worst record in the American League at 38-67, while the Devil Rays improved to 40-66. The Colorado Rockies are 37-67 and have the worst mark in the majors.
