League: MLB Sport: Baseball Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Royals edge Rays 2-1 in low-scoring opener at Tropicana Field

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 23, 2026, 3:49 AM

Last updated Jun 23, 2026

Royals edge Rays 2-1 in low-scoring opener at Tropicana Field

Summary

The Kansas City Royals defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on June 22, 2026, in a low-scoring matchup at Tropicana Field. Michael Wacha pitched seven strong innings for the Royals, allowing one run and scattering six hits. The Royals took the lead in the second inning with an RBI double from Lane Thomas, and added another in the fifth with a single from Carter Jensen. The Rays answered with an RBI double by Yandy Diaz in the fifth but could not score again. Both bullpens combined to hold the game scoreless after the sixth inning.

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By the Numbers

•Royals score first in the second inning on a double by Lane Thomas.
•Carter Jensen extends the Royals' lead with an RBI single in the fifth.
•Yandy Diaz cuts the Rays' deficit with a double in the fifth.
•Michael Wacha earns his fifth win by pitching seven innings.
•Next, the Rays will start Shane McLanahan against Luinder Avila.

Latest Updates

3:49 AMYahoo Sports — The Wacha woes: Rays 1, Royals 2

What they're saying

"
If you were looking for offense tonight, you should have turned into the winner-take-all game three of the College World Series between Oklahoma and North Carolina, during which the Sooners scored 13 runs in a route of the Tar Heels to secure their third national championship. If instead you were looking for a low scoring […]
— Yahoo Sports

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Kansas City Royals New York Yankees Tampa Bay Rays MLB Baseball