Rays score early, pile on late in 8-5 win over Royals

Tommy Pham, Yandy Diaz and Ji-Man Choi each drove in a pair of runs, sending the hot-hitting Tampa Bay Rays to an 8-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

Michael Perez and Kevin Kiermaier also drove in runs for the Rays (19-9), who have won five of six to build upon the best record in baseball. They also moved to 10-2 on the road.

Yonny Chirinos went 5 2/3 innings in relief of effective opener Ryne Stanek, allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk. Chirinos improved to 4-0 after going 0-3 last season.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nate Lowe hits a double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 29, 2019. It was Lowe's first hit in the major leagues. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

The Rays did most of their damage against Brad Keller (2-3), who struggled in his return from a five-game suspension for his role in a fracas with the Chicago White Sox. The big right-hander allowed five runs on six hits and three walks over five innings.

The Rays jumped on Keller in the first when Choi drew a two-out walk, went to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a balk. When he scored on Diaz's base hit, Tampa Bay had outscored its opponents 29-4 in the first inning this season.

The Rays added three more in the second after Kiermaier was hit by a pitch, beginning a parade of batters to the plate. Perez delivered an RBI double and Pham provided the big blow with a two-run triple, staking the Rays' pitching staff — with the best ERA in baseball — to a 4-0 lead.

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier catches a fly ball hit by Kansas City Royals' Alex Gordon during the third inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 29, 2019. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

They nearly gave it right back in the third.

The Royals took advantage of an error by Rays shortstop Daniel Robertson and a walk to Whit Merrifield when Adalberto Mondesi tripled to right. He scored on Alex Gordon's sacrifice fly.

Jorge Soler homered in the seventh for Kansas City, but the Rays added a run in the eighth and Choi's two-run double off Wily Peralta in the ninth to put the game away.

Kansas City Royals' Adalberto Mondesi hits an RBI-triple during the third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 29, 2019. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

FRIENDS IN LOWE PLACES

Rays DH Nate Lowe doubled in the eighth for his first big league hit. The slugger roared through three minor league levels last season and was hitting .300 at Triple-A Durham.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Kansas City Royals' Adalberto Mondesi (27) gestures after hitting an RBI-triple during the third inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 29, 2019. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

Rays: INF Matt Duffy took some at-bats in extended spring training as he rehabs from a sore back and ailing hamstring. He hopes to return in the next couple of weeks. "He felt good," manager Kevin Cash said. "Progress is being made."

Royals: OF Billy Hamilton got another day off after leaving Saturday night's game against the Angels with a sore hamstring. "That's one of his main strengths," manager Ned Yost said of Hamilton's speed. "I'm going to wait until he's really good, then I'm going to give him one more day."

UP NEXT

Fans hold their dogs during the third inning of a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 29, 2019. It was "Bark at the Park" night at the stadium and fans could bring their dogs to the game. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (2-2, 2.54 ERA) makes his second start after returning from a toe injury on Tuesday night against the Royals. Snell was on a 65-pitch limit and got knocked around his last time out. Jakob Junis (2-2, 5.57) will be on the mound for Kansas City.

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Tampa Bay Rays' Nate Lowe gestures after hitting a double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 29, 2019. It was Lowe's first hit in the major leagues. (AP PhotoOrlin Wagner)

TOKYO (AP) — He turns 59 in February, and the globe's oldest professional soccer player has a new club as he gets set for his 41st season.

This is of course Kazuyoshi Miura who is known in Japan as “King Kazu."

Miura announced his signing this week with third-division J-League team Fukushima United. He is moving on loan from Yokohama FC and spent last season on loan with fourth-division club Atletico Suzuka.

He failed to score in seven matches with Suzuka.

Miura has played professionally in Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal. And of course in Japan. He made his debut in 1986 with Santos in Brazil, a club made famous by Brazilian star Pelé.

In 2017 at age 50, he became the oldest player to score in a professional match. That topped the record held by highly decorated England international Stanley Matthews.

Miura was one of the first big names in Japanese soccer. He scored 55 goals in 89 appearance and was a star with Japan’s national team in the 1990s.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Japanese soccer player Kazuyoshi Miura speaks during a press conference in Suzuka, central Japan, on Nov. 30, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)