KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Lorenzo Cain homered and drove in four runs as the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-5 on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to a season-best five games.
The Royals, who have won six straight series, took a two-game lead in the AL Central after being seven games out and in fourth place on May 10.
Cain hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a two-run single in the five-run fifth when the Royals batted around. Cain has 23 RBIs in his past 19 games after driving in 10 runs in his first 30 games.
Kendrys Morales homered - a two-run shot in the sixth - and drove in three runs for the Royals while Eric Hosmer had three hits and drove in two runs. Hosmer is 13 for 30 with 13 RBIs on this homestand.
Royals right-hander Dillon Gee (2-2) labored through five innings to pick up the victory, throwing 102 pitches. He gave up four runs and nine hits, while walking one and striking out seven.
Rays starter Drew Smyly (2-7) was pulled after four innings, yielding eight runs and 12 hits. In his past three starts, all losses, he has allowed 25 hits and 16 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings.
Every Royal had at least one hit. Paulo Orlando singled in the eighth, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games. Drew Butera had three hits, matching his career high.
Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer for the Rays in the second and drove in another run in the ninth.
The Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth off rookie left-hander Scott Alexander. Evan Longoria led off the inning with a double and Alexander walked the next two. After Dickerson's one-out RBI single, Wade Davis was summoned and picked up his 15th save in 16 opportunities.
THE DEFENSE RESTS
The Rays, who made three errors Monday, have committed 11 in their past seven games with four multi-error games. "That's terrible," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We're better than that and we need to get better at it."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Brad Boxberger, who just came off the DL after adductor muscle surgery in March, left after 16 pitches in the sixth with a muscle strain in his left side. . 2B Steve Pearce, who left in the eighth inning Monday with a tender right elbow, was back in the lineup Tuesday, but was pinch hit for in the fifth inning. . RHPs Alex Cobb and Chase Whitley, who both underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2015, each threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Tuesday at Tropicana Field. . INF Logan Forsythe, who is on the DL with a left scapula hairline fracture, hit off the tee and fielded ground balls at Tropicana.
Royals: LF Brett Eibner was carted from the field in the fifth inning with a left ankle sprain. He will be evaluated further Wednesday. . 3B Mike Moustakas, who has a torn right ACL, will see Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday for a second opinion. . LHP Mike Minor, who missed last season after surgery for a torn labrum, was pulled out of his rehab assignment with shoulder fatigue. He came Tuesday to Kansas City to be examined by the Royals medical staff.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Chris Archer is 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA in three career starts against the Royals.
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy has a 4.86 ERA this season at Kauffman Stadium and a 1.29 ERA on the road.
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