Rays fall into first-place tie with Yankees

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Zack Greinke pitched seven sharp innings last night as the Kansas City Royals beat Tampa Bay, 3-2, leaving the Rays and Yankees tied for the AL East lead at 94-65.

Tampa Bay plays three more times in Kansas City and the Yankees have a three-game series in Boston. If the Rays and Yankees are tied after Sunday, the Rays will earn the division title because they won the season series against the Yankees 10-8.

Neither team is playing its best ball entering the final weekend. The Rays have lost 14 of 25 and the Yankees have lost 15 of 23.

Staked to a 3-0 lead after three innings, Greinke (10-14, 4.19 ERA) gave up two runs and four hits, striking out nine. The 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner with a 16-8 record and 2.16 ERA, Greinke had won only one of his previous seven starts. He'd been tagged for 13 runs and 19 hits in his previous 92/3 innings.

Joakim Soria worked the ninth for his 43rd save in 45 opportunities. Soria has earned saves in his past 36 opportunities since his last blown save May 6 at Texas. He has pitched 232/3 consecutive scoreless innings, a Royals record for a relief pitcher.

Losing pitcher Matt Garza (15-10) gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings. Carl Crawford tied his career high with his 18th home run.

The Rays' Evan Longoria missed his seventh straight game with a strained left quadriceps. Longoria, who could miss the next three games, is hitting .294 with 22 homers and 104 RBIs in 151 games.

Early start. Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday, Oct. 30, is scheduled to begin at 6:57 p.m. on the East Coast, the earliest start since 1987.

- AP