<p>KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Salvador Perez hit a game-ending RBI single, and the Kansas City Royals avoided a sweep by topping the Tampa Bay Rays 9-8 on Wednesday night.</p>
<p>Jorge Soler, Hunter Dozier and Carlos Santana homered for Kansas City, which trailed 6-3 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning. Scott Barlow (1-0) allowed Joey Wendle’s tiebreaking RBI double in the ninth, but got the win when the Royals rallied.</p>
<p>Michael A. Taylor sparked the game-ending rally with a leadoff single for Kansas City. Jarrod Dyson then came in to run, swiped second and advanced to third on Hanser Alberto’s sacrifice bunt against Diego Castillio (0-1).</p>
<p>Dyson then slid home safely on Nicky Lopez’s safety squeeze, tying it at 8. After Lopez advanced on a groundout, Santana was intentionally walked before Perez lined a 2-1 pitch up the third-base line for the winning hit.</p>
<p>The Royals have won 54 straight when leading after seven innings, the longest active streak in baseball. </p>
<p>Wendle had two hits and three RBIs for Tampa Bay, which had won five in a row. Brandon Lowe hit a two-run homer during the Rays’ four-run first inning against Jacob Junis.</p>
<p>Tampa Bay right-hander Michael Wacha permitted three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.</p>
<p>Austin Meadows’ RBI double gave the Rays a 6-3 lead in the seventh. But the Royals responded with four runs in the bottom half.</p>
<p>Alberto hit a two-run triple, and Santana connected for a two-run drive with two out.</p>
<p> TRAINER’S ROOM</p>
<p>Royals: RHP Jesse Hahn (right shoulder impingement syndrome) is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list Thursday.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Rays: Open a 10-game homestand on Friday with a matchup with Toronto, with Tyler Glasnow (2-0, 0.73 ERA) on the mound for Tampa Bay. </p>
<p>Royals: Begin a nine-game road trip Friday in Detroit. Mike Minor (1-1, 5.17 ERA) pitches for Kansas City.</p>
