DeLuca, Lowe hit home runs as Rays pounce on Kansas City’s poor pitching in 10-8 win over Royals

“The offense was great tonight,” Eflin said. “They carried us.”

Alec Marsh (6-6) allowed five runs and six hits with three walks in just three innings. Kansas City’s bullpen fared no better, as five relievers combined for five runs, 10 hits and five walks.

“It was a game of adjustments and I couldn’t make them,” Marsh said. “It feels like you’re fighting yourself there.”

Michael Massey and Bobby Witt Jr. homered for the Royals, who trailed 9-4 before scoring three times in the sixth inning. The rally ended when Witt — who was the potential tying run — was thrown out while trying to steal second base.

Pete Fairbanks gave up Witt’s solo home run in the ninth inning before earning his 14th save.

“They kept coming and getting hit after hit,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said, “but it felt like we made a play when we really needed it.”

Marsh struggled with his command from the start, walking Richie Palacios four times and Isaac Paredes on a full count to start the game — both eventually scoring. DeLuca homered in the second and Palacios added an RBI single for a 4-0 lead.

The Royals got a run back on Massey’s homer in the second. And after Tampa Bay restored a four-run lead on DeLuca’s single in the third, Witt hit a sacrifice fly and Pasquantino an RBI single to put Kansas City up 5-3.

Carlos Hernandez wasn’t much more in control than Marsh was for Kansas City. He loaded the bases to start the fifth inning, and Taylor Walls and Ben Rortvedt scored all three runners to extend Tampa Bay’s lead.

The Rays held on until the end of the game to record their fifth consecutive victory in the series.

“We’ve had a lot of big hits. We’ve had a lot of big at-bats, tough matchups,” said Cash, whose club has won 11 of its last 16 games and has Kansas City above .500 at 43-42. “We’ve had a lot of guys contribute offensively.”

Massey was playing for the first time since May 24, when a lower back issue forced him onto the injured list. He has been limited to DH duties since returning to the club on June 24. … Royals INF/OF Adam Frazier (right thumb sprain) began what is expected to be a brief rehab stint with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Friday night.

The Rays have not announced a starter for Friday night’s series opener in Texas, though RHP Shane Baz is expected to get the ball in place of Aaron Civale, who was traded to the Brewers earlier this week. Baz missed last season after Tommy John surgery, but he has been dominant in Triple-A Durham, posting a 1.57 ERA in his last five outings.

The Royals begin a nine-game road trip leading into the All-Star break with the first of three at Colorado on Friday night. RHP Cole Ragans (5-6, 3.33) will look to bounce back from a shaky outing last Saturday against Cleveland.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb