KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Brandon Lowe hit a two-run homer off Wily Peralta with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 Thursday for a four-game split.
Whit Merrifield became the third player with a two-triple game this season for the Royals, who lead the major leagues with 17 in 32 games. His third-inning triple drove in Martin Maldonado, who beat out an infield hit and is 7 for 13 against Charlie Morton.
AL East-leading Tampa Bay tied the score in the fifth on consecutive singles by Willy Adames, Nate Lowe and Guillermo Heredia.
Peralta (2-2) walked Daniel Robertson on four pitches leading off the ninth, and Lowe connected with two outs for his seventh home run this season.
Adam Kolarek (2-1) got the final two outs of the eighth, and Diego Castillo struck out two in a perfect ninth for his fourth save in as many chances. Tampa Bay won the season series 4-3.
Royals starter Danny Duffy allowed six hits in six innings, while Morton gave up five hits in 6 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts.
GETTING HOT
Hunter Dozier had two hits. Since an opening 3-for-27 slide, he is 30 for 69 (.435).
STAYING COLD
Chris Owings was 0 for 22 with 10 strikeouts against the Rays this season.
MOVES
Rays: RHP Austin Pruitt, the 26th man during Wednesday’s doubleheader, was returned to Triple-A Durham. Tampa Bay recalled RHP Casey Sadler from Durham for his second stint of the season following a one-day appearance on April 19. He pitched two scoreless innings in his major league debut.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: RHP Hunter Wood was put on the 10-day IL with right shoulder soreness.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (5-0), who leads the AL with a 1.75 ERA, starts Friday at Baltimore.
Royals: RHP Jorge Lopez (0-2) starts Friday’s series opener at Detroit.
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