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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Joe Randa returned with a blast.
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Randa's first career grand slam capped a five-run rally in the ninth inning, giving the Kansas City Royals a 9-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Wednesday night.
The Royals' first walkoff slam since Rey Palacios did it against Boston in the 10th inning on May 14, 1990, came on Randa's first day since missing two games with tightness in his lower back.
"It didn't matter to me to be 100 percent," said Randa, who
tied a career high with five RBI. "If I feel I can do enough to
help this team I am going to be in there. There was no way I was
not going to be out there today."
Randa connected on the fifth anniversary of his mother's death.
"It was the motivating factor for me. This was totally dedicated to her," he said.
The Royals trailed 5-0 after four innings and 5-4 heading into
the ninth before rallying against Esteban Yan.
Luis Ordaz was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and went to
third on Carlos Beltran's single. Rey Sanchez followed with a
game-tying single.
One out later, Yan intentionally walked Jermaine Dye, loading the bases for Randa. On Yan's first pitch, Randa hit a drive into the left-field seats to win it. It was Yan's first blown save in
six chances.
"I always look fastball and adjust to the offspeed pitch," Randa said. "I think he left a split-finger over the middle of the plate. I was able to do something with it."
Roberto Hernandez (1-2) pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the
victory against his former team.
"I'm going to try to do the same thing against Tampa Bay or
whoever," he said.
The Royals spotted the Devil Rays a 5-0 lead after four innings
before starting their comeback in the sixth.
Mike Sweeney led off with a single to right off Bryan Rekar and
went to third when Dye reached on an error by shortstop Felix
Martinez.
Randa followed with an RBI single. Dee Brown then lined a ball
off the first-base bag for a run-scoring double. Pinch-hitter Dave
McCarty added a sacrifice fly and Ordaz hit an RBI single to make
it 5-4.
Greg Vaughn led off the second inning against Jeff Suppan with his eighth home run of the season, a 402-foot blast to
right-center.
The Devil Rays added four more runs in the fourth inning. Fred
McGriff and Vaughn led off with singles. Aubrey Huff then reached
on an error by Sweeney at first base to load the bases.
Jose Guillen and Gerald Williams hit two-run singles to make it 5-0.
Rekar, who lost his first five decisions of the year, allowed
four runs -- one earned -- and nine hits in six innings.
"I think we are all frustrated about the way the season has
been going so far and our record," Rekar said.
Suppan gave up five runs -- two earned -- and eight hits in 4 1/3
innings.
Game notes
Vaughn's home run was his 13th at Kauffman Stadium, the
second most he has in any park not his home park. He has 14 home
runs at Oakland's Network Associates Coliseum. ... Martinez went
0-for-4 and now has two hits in his last 23 at bats and is 6-for-48
in his last 16 games. ... Brown has hit safely in 17 of his last 18
starts. ... Martinez committed two errors, giving him a major
league-leading 12 on the season.
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RECAPS
Baltimore 3
Detroit 2
Cleveland 4
Texas 3
Kansas City 9
Tampa Bay 5
Minnesota 4
Boston 3
Anaheim 3
Toronto 1
Oakland 4
NY Yankees 3
Seattle 7
Chi. White Sox 2
Atlanta 6
Colorado 4
Arizona 2
Cincinnati 1
Florida 4
San Francisco 3
Los Angeles 7
Montreal 2
Milwaukee 6
Philadelphia 1
St. Louis 3
Pittsburgh 0
San Diego 5
NY Mets 2
Houston 6
Chicago Cubs 2
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