Aug 30, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) gets a gatorade bath after defeating the Kansas City Royals at Tropicana Field. The Rays won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier said the Tampa Bay Rays had to claw their way back into wild card contention after losing the first two games of a weekend series to the Kansas City Royals.
In Sunday’s 3-2 win, Kiermaier decided to take matters into his own hands.
Kiermaier hit his second home run in as many days and it was the difference in the game.
“We know the situation we’re in and we need to get things turned around,” Kiermaier said. “There’s still a lot of time left.”
On a team that’s had its share of ups and downs this season, Kiermaier is becoming a constant. He is a quality defensive outfielder with 13 assists, he is aggressive on the bases and leads the AL with 12 triples.
Now he is adding power to his game.
“He’s super talented,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s got plenty of power. He’s not trying to do too much at the plate and it’s paying off in huge dividends.”
If Kiermaier’s August can carry over into September and the Rays stay alive in the wild card chase, it could pay off with extra baseball in October.
