Mullins' 2-run homer, Seymour's sharp outing lift Rays to 8th straight win, 5-2 over Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cedric Mullins hit a two-run homer, Ian Seymour dominated the Royals for the second time in a week, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Kansas City 5-2 on Thursday night to extend their winning streak to eight games.

Taylor Walls, Richie Palacios and Hunter Feduccia also drove in runs for the red-hot Rays, though Junior Caminero had his home run streak end at six games. The slugging third baseman went 0 for 5.

Seymour (5-1) allowed a leadoff homer to Carter Jensen but just two more hits over six crisp innings, striking out eight and walking one. Cam Booser and Garrett Cleavinger got the game to Bryan Baker, who handled the ninth for his 22nd save.

Stephen Kolek (4-3) struggled for the Royals in his first start since his wife gave birth to their daughter, Faye, last week. He cruised through the first but allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in the second, and he did not return for the third.

Kolek matched a career high by allowing nine runs in just 1 2/3 innings in his most recent start June 21 against St. Louis.

He didn't get much help from his defense in the second inning. Royals right fielder Kameron Misner had a flyball by Walls bounce off his glove at the warning track for a two-out double, and he also misplayed an RBI triple by Feduccia later in the inning — both would've been difficult catches looking back into the setting sun.

The score was still 3-1 in the fifth when Simpson singled for his third straight at-bat. His two-out hit set the table for Mullins, who hit Randy Dobnak's 91 mph sinker into the right field bullpen to give Tampa Bay some breathing room.

Isaac Collins homered in the seventh for Kansas City, which has lost seven of its last eight games.

The Rays continue their six-game road trip on Friday night in Houston. RHP Nick Martinez (7-2, 2.66 ERA) gets the start.

The Royals are off Friday night as Arrowhead Stadium hosts the Colombia-Ghana match in the World Cup across the parking lot from Kauffman Stadium. RHP Michael Wacha (5-5, 3.31) will start their series opener against Philadelphia on Saturday.

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Stephen Kolek throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tampa Bay Rays' Cedric Mullins (31) celebrates with Junior Caminero after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals first baseman Jac Caglianone makes the catch for the out on Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Díaz during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ian Seymour throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tampa Bay Rays' Cedric Mullins, right, celebrates with Chandler Simpson (14) after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

TORONTO (AP) — Goncalo Ramos headed in the stoppage-time winner as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a wild finish that also included a Croatian goal disallowed for offside just before the final whistle in a World Cup round of 32 match on Thursday night.

The game featured a matchup 40-somethings Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, in his sixth World Cup, and Croatia's Luka Modrić, making his fifth bid for a tournament title.

Ronaldo initially tied things up in the 68th minute on a penalty kick and give the megastar his first knockout stage goal at the World Cup before being subbed out in the 81st minute. But, it was Ramos who gave Portugal the victory and a berth in the round of 16.

Portugal moves on to face Spain on Monday.

“First half we dominated the game. In second half after the goal we get a little bit panic, but this is football,” Ronaldo said. “After the penalty, I think it was a little bit better for us. We created a few chances and I think at the end of the day we deserved to win the match.”

The game ended in controversy as Croatia thought it had tied things up 2-2 in the very last moments, but Mario Pasalic was called offside as VAR ruled no goal. Croatia fans threw bottles on the field and whistled in protest.

Croatia opened the scoring in the 53rd minute when Ivan Perisic scored off a cross from Josip Sanisic.

Ronaldo, booed loudly by Croatia fans every time he touched the ball, got his chance from the spot after Nikola Vlasic was called for a holding foul inside the box. Portugal’s megastar hitched his step and converted down the middle as the goalkeeper went to his right.

Modrić led Croatia to second- and third-place finishes in 2018 and 2022, and the match carried the weight of the two aging stars each trying to realize the dream of winning the World Cup. Modrić is 40, while Ronaldo is 41.

The men, who were teammates at Real Madrid, shared a few smiles and an embrace ahead of the coin toss before the match. The two met on the pitch after the match, and hugged and exchanged a few words.

“I played with Luca so many years,” Ronaldo said. "We’re nearly the same age. I think he’s a legend of football. He’s still a legend of football.”

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Lexie Linderman is a student in John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Portugal's Renato Veiga gestures during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) scores on a penalty kick past Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic (1) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Croatia's Luka Modric (10) reacts to a call as Portugal's Bernardo Silva (10) looks on during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) celebrates after scoring their opening goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Portugal's Ruben Dias (3) celebrates a win during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (7) celebrates after scoring their opening goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Portugal and Croatia in Toronto, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)