Jason Vargas was sharp in eight innings of work for Kansas City as the Royals open up a three game series with the Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-2 victory Monday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Vargas (1-0) allowed four hits, walked one and struck out two in eight-plus innings, lowering his ERA to 1.20 in two starts. He lost his shutout bid when Ben Zobrist homered on his second pitch in the ninth.
Rays starter Matt Moore (0-2) came out in the fifth inning with a sore left elbow. The All-Star lefty grimaced after throwing a pitch to Norichika Aoki and was immediately removed by manager Joe Maddon.
Two innings later, Royals second baseman Omar Infante was hit in the left jaw by a pitch from Heath Bell. A bleeding Infante walked off the field under his own power.
The difference offensively for the Royals was Alcides Escobar’s three run double late in the ball game to help the Royals break out of an offensive slump.
Royals (3-3) back at it tonight with Yordano Ventura making his first start for KC in 2014 against Tampa Bay.
