Buck hits birthday homer
After Pena hit a tying solo homer off All-Star closer Joakim Soria in the ninth, the Royals struck back with 10th-inning home runs by John Buck and Mike Aviles for a 7-4 win Monday.
The loss snapped the Rays' seven-game winning streak. Tampa Bay, with the major's best record at 55-33, lost for the second time in the last 13 games. The Rays went 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position.
"Today was a tough day for us," Pena said. "We couldn't capitalize."
Pena nearly salvaged a bad day with his home run off Soria, who blew his second second save in 25 chances.
"You know it's going to happen at some point in time," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "That fastball caught just a little too much of the plate. It was kind of right in Pena's nitro zone and he got it out of the ballpark."
Billy Butler reached second to start the 10th on a throwing error by Rays third baseman Evan Longoria. Pinch runner Esteban German advanced to third on Mark Teahen's grounder. After Dan Wheeler (2-4) intentionally walked Ross Gload, Buck lined his fourth homer of the season down the left-field line. Two pitches later, Aviles homered to make it 7-3.
"That's what happens when you miss your spots," Wheeler said. "I didn't make my pitches and it cost us the game."
Soria (1-1) also allowed Eric Hinske's solo homer in the bottom of the 10th.
Aviles had three hits and David DeJesus had three hits and two RBIs for the Royals, who avoided being swept in the four-game series.
"It was good to see us battle back," Hillman said.
American League
RED SOX 1, TWINS 0: At Boston, Manny Ramirez hit a run-scoring single in the eighth to lift Boston in a pitching duel between Daisuke Matsuzaka and Minnesota's Scott Baker. Dustin Pedroia extended his career-high hitting streak to 15 games with a double on the first pitch from reliever Brian Bass (3-3) in the eighth. Pedroia advanced on a groundout and Ramirez then lined a single to right through a drawn-in infield.
ANGELS 9, RANGERS 6: At Arlington, Texas, Torii Hunter homered twice, the first capping a six-run second inning, and Los Angeles held on. Vladimir Guerrero, Jeff Mathis and Hunter homered in the big second inning that gave the Angels an 8-0 lead. All three were off Rangers starter Luis Mendoza (1-3), who allowed eight runs in 1 1-3 innings. Hunter had an RBI single in the first and homered in the seventh.
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