Steven Souza Jr. and Logan Morrison hit solo homers in the fifth inning to lift the Rays to a 5-3 win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.  Jason Vargas gave up all five runs in six innings of work to fall to 14-and-9.  Whit Merrifield hit a three-run homer in the third to tie the game at three for Kansas City, which lost two-of-three in the series.

Vargas talks about his second half struggled

>>Royals End August Play On Sour Note

The Royals will be happy to turn the page on the calendar.  They are off today, which means they finished August losing six-of-seven games and 18-of-28 overall.  That followed up the month of July in which they went 16-and-10.  The Royals started just 7-and-16 in April, but reached a high-water mark of seven games over July 28th at Boston.

Ned Yost talks offense.  He says they’re not getting guys on base

>>Royals At Twins Tomorrow

The Royals open a three-game series against the Twins tomorrow night at Target Field.  Jason Hammel will take the mound for KC and Kyle Gibson for Minnesota.  The Royals are 65-and-67 on the season, four games behind the Twins for the second AL wild card.  There are five other teams between the Royals and the Twins in the standings.