Kansas City @ Tampa Bay preview

Kansas City at Tampa Bay

Last Meeting ( Apr 30, 2010 ) Kansas City 3, Tampa Bay 2

For one day, the Kansas City Royals found a way to solve the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Royals held on for a 3-2 victory in the second game of the squads’ series on Friday, earning just their second win in 12 tries against Tampa Bay since the beginning of 2009.

Still, the loss was only a minor setback for the Rays, who closed the season’s opening month with a record of 17-6. In was a marked improvement over last season when Tampa Bay, fresh-off its first World Series appearance, ended April with a 9-14 record en route to missing the postseason.

The Rays nearly kept their winning ways going Friday, falling a run shy in the ninth inning. Kansas City closer Joakim Soria stranded the tying and winning runs on base as he induced B.J. Upton to line out to end things.

Alberto Callaspo broke the tie with a sacrifice fly in the top of the frame before Mitch Maier brought in a run with a single for Kansas City.

The Royals could face a tough challenge trying to make it two straight wins on Saturday as they will be pitted against Tampa Bay’s hottest pitcher in David Price.

Price is coming off a dominating performance -- and perhaps most impressive of his young career -- on Sunday, a four-hit shutout of the Toronto Blue Jays in which he struck out nine batters.

The hot start is a positive sign for Price following a somewhat disappointing first full campaign. The former No. 1 overall pick won 10 games with a 4.42 ERA in 23 starts last year after bursting onto the scene down the stretch in 2008.

Through four starts in 2010, Price is 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 28.2 innings.

The left-hander faced the Royals once last season, recording a win in allowing one run on five hits in seven innings.

Opposing him for the Royals will be right-hander Kyle Davies, who has been steady thus far with a record of 2-1 and a 3.65 ERA. Davies earned a win on Monday with six scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners.

Kansas City welcomed back second baseman Chris Getz on Friday as he was activated from the 15-day disabled list because of an oblique injury. Getz is batting .188 with three stolen bases in 10 games.

The Royals lead the American League with a .284 team batting average.