Elliot Johnson finished off an eighth-run sixth inning with a three-run homer Thursday, launching Kansas City to a 10-1 rout of Tampa Bay.
The Royals had reached double digits in the run department just twice this season before producing 14 hits against the Rays.
Eight of those hits came in the sixth inning, during which five of the first six Kansas City batters reached base.
Singles by Alex Gordon, Salvador Perez and David Lough all brought home a run in the big inning, Alcides Escobar scored on a wild pitch and Miguel Tejada had an RBI double.
Johnson, who opened the inning with a single, came up for the second time in the frame with Lough and Tejada aboard and he launched his second home run of the season.
That outburst gave the win to Ervin Santana (5-5), who allowed only an unearned run on five hits over 7 2/3.
