Brad Keller was ‘cruising.’
The Royals starter needed just 63 pitches to get through the first 5 innings, and though the Rays offense hit a few screamers, they hadn’t scored a run since the 1st.
Keller needed 22 pitches to get through the 6th, however, and a Brandon Lowe double put the Rays within a run.
But manager Ned Yost stuck with his pitcher into the 7th, when Mike Zunino, fresh from the paternity list, delivered the devastating blow off of a fatigued Keller:
It was a memorable moment for Zunino, perhaps the most memorable:
#Rays Mike Zunino on where tonight's home run ranks in his career: "That has to be number one.