Jose Siri drives in 4 runs and Zach Eflin earns his 9th win as Rays beat Royals 11-3
Jose Siri #22 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting a three run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning at Tropicana Field on June 23, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rays Jose Siri homered and drove in four runs, Zach Eflin won his ninth game and the MLB-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 11-3 on Friday night.
Siri had a three-run homer in the second inning and gave the Rays a 4-3 led with an RBI single in the fourth.
Eflin (9-3) improved to 8-0 in eight home starts, allowing three runs and seven hits over six innings.
Nick Pratto and Salvador Perez homered for the Royals, who have the majors second-worst record at 21-55 . Perez was checked by a trainer in the fifth inning and was replaced by Freddy Fermin at catcher one inning later due to a right hamstring cramp.
The Royals won the opener of a four-game series 6-5 on Thursday night. Tampa Bay, 53-26 overall, is 33-9 in home games.
Harold Ramírez ended Greinke’s night with an RBI single to start a four-run fifth that made it 8-3. Reliever Jose Cuas entered and allowed all three batters he faced to reach base, including Taylor Walls’ two-run single and a run-scoring double by Christian Bethancourt.
Randy Arozarena picked up his 54th RBI on a single during a three-run eighth that put Tampa Bay ahead 11-3.
Pratto homered on Eflin’s second pitch of the game, and Perez had a two-run drive in the third inning that tied the game at 3.
BENCHING CONTINUES
Tampa Bay SS Wander Franco didn’t play for the second straight day as he addresses handling frustrating situations.
"There’s really nothing new," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Just continuing to support him."
Franco watched the game from the dugout. The 22-year-old was sent home before Thursday’s game.
Cash said Franco would be benched for at least two games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: OF Matt Beaty, involved in a scary collision Wednesday at Detroit, went on the seven-day concussion list.
Rays: Cash believes ace Shane McClanahan, who left Thursday’s game with mid-back tightness, can avoid going on the injured list. ... 2B Brandon Lowe (herniated disc) hit against injured relievers Andrew Kittredge (Tommy John surgery) and Calvin Faucher (right elbow) and might play in a minor league game next week.
UP NEXT
Royals RHP Jordan Lyles (0-11) looks to end a season opening 15-start winless streak on Saturday. LHP Vida Blue held the Kansas City record of 14 set in 1983. Rays RHP Yonny Chirinos (3-2) will start or follow an opener.