ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ Consider August a throwback month _ so far.
Salvador Perez clubbed a two-run homer in the top of the seventh. The bullpen delivered a sterling performance. And the Royals crafted a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night.
The performance was reminiscent of something vintage 2015, and the Royals accomplished something that hadn't been done since late June: They won two straight.
Starter Yordano Ventura allowed two runs in five innings. The bullpen seized control for the final four frames. The pivotal appearance belonged to rookie left-hander Matt Strahm, who delivered a shutdown outing in the bottom of the seventh, escaping a jam with two strikeouts. In just his second career appearance, Strahm took the baton from reliever Chris Young with two runners on and one out.
Strahm began by freezing Rays shortstop Brad Miller with a 96 mph fastball. He followed by striking out Desmond Jennings on a fastball that touched 97 mph. As his parents watched from their seats at Tropicana Field, Strahm bolted off the mound and headed back to the dugout, the Royals still holding a one-run lead.
The escape came just minutes after Perez homered off Rays reliever Xavier Cedeno in the top of the seventh. First baseman Eric Hosmer had opened the inning with a single. Perez saw an 89 mph fastball and deposited a baseball into the seats in left field.
One day after Danny Duffy crafted one of the finest starts in franchise history, Ventura worked through five innings, allowing two runs and six hits. The performance was serviceable, yet Ventura was not at his best. He required 103 pitches to maneuver through five innings and issued four walks. He threw just 57 strikes before an elevating pitch count forced manager Ned Yost to call on Young in the sixth inning.
For four innings, Ventura had skirted around danger. He coaxed an inning-ending double play in the first, working around two base runners. He escaped the third inning despite allowing two walks and two singles. Perez offered a hand by throwing out Nick Franklin on a stolen-base attempt. Raul Mondesi ended the inning with a slick play at second base.
The Royals had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning, manufacturing a run in a fashion that also felt very 2015. With two out, Lorenzo Cain singled to left field and stole second base. He came around to score on an RBI single up the middle from Hosmer.
The single represented Hosmer's third hit of the road trip. He improved to just two for his last 20 before adding another hit in the top of the seventh.
The Royals were facing Tampa Bay's Matt Andriese, who was making a return to the starting rotation after the Rays traded left-hander Matt Moore to the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
Andriese was on a limited pitch count. But the Royals managed just one run in four innings before Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash handed the ball to reliever Erasmo Ramirez.
Alex Gordon was hitless in his first three at-bats, starting 2 for 20 on the trip. So was designated hitter Kendrys Morales, who opened the trip just 4 for 21, despite a solo homer in Monday's series opener.
By the end, the Royals and a depleted bullpen made three runs hold up. Young worked 1 1/3 innings. Strahm struck out two. Joakim Soria worked around a double in the eighth before Kelvin Herrera recorded a save in the ninth.
The Royals opened an eight-game road trip when the Rangers defeated them in a four-game sweep. They have pieced together two wins at Tropicana Field.
