Rays can't keep good times going vs. Royals, lose another close game

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Jun 22, 2026

Published in Baseball

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TAMPA, Fla. — Just when you might have thought the Tampa Bay Rays had put their worst behind them and were ready to go on another hot streak, they showed otherwise.

Facing a Kansas City Royals team that has been one of the American League’s worst for much of the season, the Rays delivered an uninspiring performance Monday night in a 2-1 loss.

A 1-5 showing on a West Coast road trip extended the Rays’ skid to 7-15. But winning two of three from a pesky Washington Nationals team over the weekend to open a season-long 10-game homestand provided some hope they would regain momentum and take advantage of the extended run at Tropicana Field, where they have the majors’ best home record.

Starter Drew Rasmussen, who has been on a sizzling streak, delivered a solid outing, though — illustrative of how good he’s been — the two runs he allowed were more than in his previous three starts combined.

Though the Royals entered the game with a 32-46 record that was second worst in the AL, they were on a bit of an upswing. They had won three of their previous four games and entered Monday with an AL-leading .286 average in June, to go with an impressive 5.8 runs per game, fifth best in the majors.

The Royals took an early lead off Rasmussen.

Michael Massey drew a leadoff walk in the second inning and scored on Lane Thomas’ double to left, sliding in as shortstop Ben Williamson’s relay throw pulled catcher Nick Fortes to the inside of the plate.

The Royals made it 2-0 in the fifth.

Nick Loftin singled with one out and stole second. After a walk to No. 9 hitter Isaac Collins, Loftin scored on a single by Carter Jensen.

The Rays weren’t able to get much going against veteran right-hander Michael Wacha, a 2021 Ray, who has had a rough recent run. Prior to Monday, the Royals had lost the previous seven games Wacha started, and he had an 0-3 record and 4.85 record over that span.

The Rays managed to get one run in the fifth, and it came with a historical notation.

After Richie Palacios singled with one out, Yandy Diaz drove him home with a double.

That marked Diaz’s 446th RBI with Tampa Bay, tying longtime teammate Brandon Lowe for seventh place on the franchise’s all-time list. Diaz is in position to climb quickly into the top five, as BJ Upton is sixth with 447 and Aubrey Huff fifth with 449.

Rasmussen worked six innings, allowing the two runs, four hits and two walks while striking out five. He threw 90 pitches, 60 for strikes.

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