ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brad Miller hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Thursday.
Miller connected on his 19th homer off Joakim Soria (4-5), who gave up three of the Rays’ overall four hits during his one inning.
Brad Boxberger (1-0) worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth before Alex Colome got his 26th save despite giving up two hits during the ninth. Drew Smyly allowed two runs, five hits, one walk and struck out 10 in seven innings.
Ian Kennedy gave up one hit, walked four and had nine strikeouts in six-plus innings for the Royals. Alex Gordon hit his eighth home.
Tampa Bay won the final two games to split the four-game series. The Rays are 8-25 against Kansas City since the start of the 2012 season.
Fans expressed their frustration on Twitter:
I can think of at least 6 games Soria has lost 4 us! Is there a point when he refuses 2 play cuz he knows he'll lose it!#Royals #frustrating
— Smo (@MOJOey32) August 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/KyGafford23/status/761276019894386689
https://twitter.com/MallRobA/status/761275954744463360
Another great save by Soria…oh wait. That's not what happened. #ForeverRoyal
— Kelli Knott (@knottkelli) August 4, 2016
I truly believe if the Royals didn't have Young and Soria on the roster our record would look a lot different.
— Jacob Greenlee (@JacobGreenlee6) August 4, 2016
