ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Mike Zuninos first home run for the Tampa Bay Rays was one to remember.
The veteran catcher was reinstated from the paternity list, three days after the birth of his first child, and hit a two-run shot that helped the AL East leaders stop a season-high four-game skid with a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.
Man, I didnt promise that, but Ill definitely take it, Zunino said. You know, that was a very special moment in life and my baseball career. Its something Ill never forget.
Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe and Daniel Robertson also drove in runs for the Rays, who scored three times in the seventh to come from behind against Brad Keller (2-2).
Its the ninth time this season the Royals, who have the ALs worst record, have lost after holding a lead in the sixth inning or later.
Thats a pesky offensive outfit over there. They give you good at-bats, Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. But going into the seventh, we had the lead. We just couldnt hold it.
Pitching while appealing a five-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing fracas with the Chicago White Sox last week, Keller held the Rays in check until giving up Robertsons tying RBI grounder and Zuninos homer to straight away center in the seventh.
Zunino, obtained from Seattle in an offseason trade, missed three games while on the paternity list for the birth of his son, Rhett Michael, last Friday.
Thats got to be pretty special. Im a big fan of Rhett Zunino right now. Thats something hes going to be able to talk about for a long time. Awesome, Rays manager Kevin Cash said. The way it came, and how big a hit it was at the time is even more impactful.
The Rays, coming off being swept by the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox over the weekend, are 4-5 over their last nine games following an 11-3 start.
We had a tough weekend and things were not looking good up until the sixth, Cash said. The guys really did a good job of just grinding out at-bats. We smoked some balls early on but had absolutely nothing to show for it, and that can be pretty demoralizing. … But they kept at it and keep putting pressure on, and finally something broke.
Keller allowed five runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings in his first outing since hitting Chicagos Tim Anderson with a pitch two innings after the ALs leading hitter emphatically spiked his bat to celebrate a homer, sparking last Wednesdays melee that led to his suspension.
I felt really good for the first six and I felt good going out for the seventh, Keller said, adding that ultimately he left too many pitches over the middle of the plate.
Alex Gordon, Hunter Dozier and Jorge Soler hit solo homers for the Royals, who have lost four straight.
Gordon and Dozier went deep for the second straight game, with Gordon connecting off Rays starter Yonny Chirinos in the first inning and Dozier giving the Royals a 3-1 lead in the sixth. Solers solo shot snapped a fifth-inning tie.
Wilmer Font (1-0) struck out the only batter he faced to get the win. Emilio Pagan pitched a perfect ninth for his first career save.