Jeff Niemann throws two-hitter and Ben Zobrist hits grand slam as Rays beat Royals

Niemann throws two-hitter in Rays’ victory

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jeff Niemann took a perfect game into the fifth inning and wound up with a two-hitter, and Ben Zobrist hit a grand slam to help lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 9-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.

Niemann (5-4) retired his first 14 batters before Mark Teahen lined a two-out single to center in the fifth. The right-hander struck out a career-high nine and walked one in his first complete game.

Zobrist became the first Rays’ player with four career grand slams when he gave Tampa Bay an 8-0 lead in the fourth. He has two grand slams this year, with the other coming on April 17 against the Chicago White Sox.

Kansas City closer Joakim Soria got two outs in the eighth in his first outing since being sidelined May 7 with a right rotator cuff strain.

B.J. Upton hit a two-run double and later scored on a wild pitch by Brian Bannister (4-3) as Tampa Bay took a 4-0 lead in the second.

Bannister gave up eight runs, nine hits and three walks in 3 2-3 innings for the Royals, who have lost six in a row and 11 of 13. He has lost two straight starts, allowing 15 runs over 8 2-3 innings.

Niemann is 3-1 in his last five starts. During that stretch he has given up eight runs in 31 innings.

Carlos Pena put the Rays ahead 1-0 on an RBI double during the first. Dioner Navarro had a solo homer in the fifth.

Tampa Bay has won four of five following a season-high five-game losing skid.