Royals end scoreless drought at 45 innings, beat Rays 6-2.
(AP) — Whit Merrifield finally put the Kansas City Royals back on the scoreboard.
Merrifield’s 16th home run with two outs in the third ended Kansas City’s drought, three innings shy of the major league record.
Royals rookie Jake Junis (6-2) did not allow a hit until a one-out single in the fifth.
He struck out a career-high eight and walked none over 5 2/3 innings.
"We’re getting down to the end right now, so each game is huge for us," Hosmer said.
Cobb gave up a run on three singles and three wild pitches in the fourth.
In the sixth, Lucas Duda struck out swinging on a pitch that hit him.
Kansas City manager Ned Yost said Kuntz never saw three balls hit toward right field Monday, including one that missed him by about 5 feet.
Catching coach Pedro Grifol replaced Kuntz in the coach’s box at first.