MLB: Tampa Bay 8, Kansas City 7

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 18 (UPI) -- Evan Longoria capped a Tampa Bay rally with a two-run homer in the eighth Friday, lifting the Rays to an 8-7 decision over Kansas City.

The Royals took a 6-2 lead through three innings, but the Rays came back to win for the fifth time in seven games.

Tampa Bay got within one on Pat Burrell's two-run blast in the seventh and Longoria gave the Rays the lead in the eighth when he hit his 18th homer of the season.

Carl Crawford reached on a two-out single off Juan Cruz (3-3) and Longoria followed by hitting the first pitch from Cruz out to left.

That made a winner out of Joe Nelson (3-0), who worked the seventh inning. J.P. Howell earned his seventh save with a perfect ninth.

Kansas City built its early lead thanks in part to a three-run homer by Mike Jacobs during a five-run third.

The Royals lost their fourth straight.