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Final Score: Tampa Bay 5 - Kansas City 3

Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Carl Crawford finished 2-for-4 with two triples and two runs batted in, as the Tampa Bay Rays edged Kansas City, 5-3, in the third contest of a four-game series with the Royals.

Scott Kazmir gave up two runs on seven hits, while striking out five, in five innings of work but did not factor into the decision. Al Reyes (2-2) tossed a scoreless seventh inning and took the win for the Rays, who have won three of four.

Carlos Pena went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk, while Eric Hinske added an RBI for Tampa Bay.

Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar matched Kazmir's effort, as he allowed two runs on four hits in five innings, and also got a no-decision. Horacio Ramirez (1-1) allowed two runs on three hits in 2 2/3 frames of relief, and took the loss.

"My job is to make pitches and pick guys up sometimes," Ramirez said. "To me that's a little frustrating that I wasn't able to do that today."

Mark Grudzielanek finished with three doubles, while Ross Gload and Esteban German each went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Royals, who have lost five of six.

The Rays gave up a two-run lead early in the game, but regained an advantage with an eighth-inning rally. With two outs, Akinori Iwamura singled and B.J. Upton doubled to put both runners in scoring position.

Crawford then brought them both home by tripling to the gap in right-center field for a 4-2 lead. Pena's lead-off homer in the ninth provided some insurance.

"It feels good to hit the ball hard and get the base hit," Crawford said. "You know we really needed it, so it was good to contribute."

The Royals staged a comeback in the bottom half. Against Troy Percival, Gload hit a ball deep to right field that caromed off the wall, and ended up on third. He scored on German's single to bring Kansas City within 5-3.

However, Percival got one out on a fielder's choice, then got Mike Aviles to fly out and Grudzielanek to foul out to finish the game, and nail down his 22nd save of the season.

Tampa Bay got on the scoreboard in the second when Hinske's ground out plated Pena. The Rays added another in the fourth as Willy Aybar grounded into a fielder's choice with runners on the corners, allowing Evan Longoria to cross home.

Gload's RBI single, scoring Billy Butler, who led off the fourth with an infield single, got a run back for the Royals. Kansas City then tied the game in the fifth when Jose Guillen singled in Grudzielanek.