Evan Longoria and Pat Burrell homer, drive in 3 to power Tampa Bay past Kansas City 8-7

Burrell, Longoria power Rays past KC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Evan Longoria and Pat Burrell hit two-run homers in consecutive innings to help the Tampa Bay Rays rally for an 8-7 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Longoria, who missed Tuesday night’s All-Star Game with an infected finger, connected against Juan Cruz (3-3) in the eighth to give the Rays the lead. Burrell’s fifth homer off Jamey Wright in the seventh cut Kansas City’s lead to 7-6.

Longoria and Burrell also had RBI singles for the Rays, who ended a four-game road losing streak in the opener of a 10-day trip. Joe Nelson (3-0) pitched one inning for the win and J.P. Howell worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save in 12 opportunities.

Mike Jacobs and Mark Teahen drove in three runs apiece for the Royals, who led 6-2 after three innings. Teahen hit a two-run single off James Shields before Jacobs connected for a three-run shot in Kansas City’s five-run third.

Yuniesky Betancourt, acquired in a trade with Seattle last Friday, had two hits in his debut as the Royals’ shortstop. David DeJesus went 3 for 5 and scored twice.

It was not a good night defensively for Betancourt and third baseman Alex Gordon, the new left side of the infield for the Royals. Gordon, making his first start since undergoing hip surgery in April, dropped Dioner Navarro’s popup in the fourth. Navarro eventually came around to score when Longoria grounded a ball through Betancourt on what was ruled an RBI single because his view of the ball may have been obscured by the runner.

Carl Crawford, who won the MVP award in Tuesday night’s All-Star game, then scored on a passed ball for Tampa Bay’s second unearned run of the inning, cutting it to 6-4.

Crawford also had an RBI single in the third, stole his major league-leading 45th base and scored on Burrell’s single.

Kansas City slugger Jose Guillen, late getting back from the Dominican Republic because of his son’s illness, pinch hit in the ninth and struck out to end the game.

Brian Bannister gave up four runs, two earned, and seven hits in five innings for Kansas City.

Shields allowed seven runs and 11 hits in 5 1-3 innings.

NOTES: The Rays reinstated RHP Grant Balfour from the bereavement list and optioned C John Jaso to Triple-A Durham. … Rays manager Joe Maddon received his 2008 AL manager of the year award from the Negro Leagues Museum and toured the facility on Friday. … The Royals are 19-41 since starting the season 18-11.