Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer following Lorenzo Cain’s hit that drove in the go-ahead run in a four-run eighth inning and the Royals defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Monday night at Kauffman Stadium.  The win was the fourth straight for the Royals who have a 1.5 game lead in the American League Central.

“It feels good,” Hosmer said. “It feels like I’m getting a lot of opportunities. I’m coming up in the right spots.”

Hosmer has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, where he his hitting 13-for-35 (.371), with two doubles, two homers and 12 RBIs in that span.

Royals starter Ian Kennedy walked a season-high five, including the bases loaded in the fifth, but limited the Rays to three singles and one unearned run over six innings. He has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his 10 starts, lowering his ERA to 3.03.  Kelvin Herrera suffered his second blown save, allowing a run in the eighth, but he picked up the victory.