ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer during a four-run third, and the Tampa Bay Rays pummeled the Kansas City Royals 9-2 on Sunday for their seventh straight win.
James Shields (7-5) gave up two runs and four hits over seven innings to win his third consecutive start. He struck out eight and walked one.
The Rays, with the majors' best record at 55-32, have won 11 of 12 overall. Their seven-game winning streak is the second-longest in team history; Tampa Bay won 12 in a row in June 2004.
Esteban German drove in both runs for the Royals, who have lost seven of nine.
Carlos Pena drove in two runs on a two-out double and Longoria followed with his two-run homer off Luke Hochevar (5-7) that gave Tampa Bay a 5-2 lead in the third. Longoria has five homers and 17 RBIs in his last 13 games.
His 16 homers this season are tied with Kansas City's Bob Hamelin (1994) for the second-most by an AL rookie before the All-Star break in the last 20 years. Longoria is also one of five players the fans will vote on to fill the last American League All-Star spot.
Tampa Bay went ahead 7-2 on B.J. Upton's two-run double in the fourth. Gabe Gross added a solo homer and Carl Crawford a sacrifice hit to make it 9-2 in the sixth.
German put the Royals up 2-0 with a two-out, two-run single in the second.
Tampa Bay loaded the bases with no out in the bottom half but scored just once on an RBI grounder by Ben Zobrist. Hochevar then induced an inning-ending double-play grounder from Gross.
Hochevar allowed seven runs and nine hits in four innings. He has given up 13 runs over 10 innings in his last two starts.
Notes: Rays manager Joe Maddon said closer Troy Percival (left hamstring) may not be ready to return immediately after the All-Star break. ... Royals 3B Alex Gordon was rested. LF David DeJesus, normally the leadoff hitter, moved into Gordon's third spot in the lineup. It's the fourth time DeJesus hit third this season. ... Rays CF Rocco Baldelli, who hurt his groin while on a rehab assignment for chronic muscle fatigue, is not ready to resume playing in minor league games. He's working out with the team. ... Tampa Bay LHP Scott Kazmir and C Dioner Navarro made the All-Star team. Kansas City closer Joakim Soria also was chosen for the squad, and outfielder Jose Guillen is a candidate for the final selection.
