ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Salvador Perez gave the Royals a late lift Wednesday night heading into a key midseason series. Perez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the ninth inning and Kansas City beat Tampa Bay 5-4 to take two of three from the Rays. The second-place Royals return home Thursday night to begin a four-game series against AL Central-leading Detroit, which has a 4 1/2-game lead. "That was a huge win for us," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "Thats the difference between 4 1/2 games back compared to 5 1/2 games back. Definitely nice to have a little momentum going home for the last four games before the All-Star break. Its a lot better than the alternative." Kirby Yates (0-1), the fifth Tampa Bay reliever, entered with runners at the corners and gave up Perezs one-out shot into the left-field corner. Perez wasnt sure if the drive would stay fair or even clear the low fence near the foul pole. "As soon as the ball hit on the other side, good for us," he said. Its been a big week for Perez, chosen Sunday to start at catcher for the American League in next weeks All-Star game. Aaron Crow (4-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Greg Holland got three outs for his 24th save. All-Star outfielder Alex Gordon (sprained right wrist) and third baseman Mike Moustakas (flu) were not in Kansas Citys starting lineup. In addition, left-hander Jason Vargas was taken to the hospital for an appendectomy. Gordon entered as a ninth-inning defensive replacement. He will have an MRI exam Thursday. "I dont think its anything serious," he said. Kevin Kiermaier went 4 for 4 with a grand slam for the Rays. Tampa Bay, which lost for the fourth time in 14 games, missed a chance to gain a game on AL East-leading Baltimore. The Rays remained nine games back of the Orioles in fourth place. "It stings a little bit," Yates said. "Its a game we could have won and we needed to win. Obviously, it doesnt feel good. Its a situation where you let your team down, but theres nothing I can do about it now." After starter Yordano Ventura walked light-hitting Jose Molina to load the bases with two outs in the fourth, Kiermaier sent a shot into the right-field stands to give Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead. Eric Hosmer hit a first-pitch solo homer with two outs in the first off Alex Cobb that put the Royals up 1-0. It was the first time Cobb pitched against Kansas City since being struck near the right ear June 15 last year by a liner hit by Hosmer. Cobb, sidelined for two months due to problems that included a concussion and symptoms of vertigo, allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings. Ventura gave up four runs, five hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out five. The Royals loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, but scored just once to take a 2-0 lead on Raul Ibanezs grounder. Kansas City failed to score with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh when reliever Grant Balfour got a pop fly from Perez. NOTES: Kansas City is 2-37 when trailing entering the ninth inning. ... Tampa Bay SS Yunel Escobar (shoulder) could return Friday. ... Kansas City RHP Jeremy Guthrie (5-7) and Tigers LHP Drew Smyly (4-8) are Thursdays scheduled starters. ... The Rays are off Thursday before starting a three-game series Friday night against Toronto. Jim Kelly Bills Jersey . Ricciardos exclusion from the results tarnished what had been a day of celebration for local fans, who were jubilant that the Red Bull driver had apparently become the first Australian to finish on the podium at his home race. However just before midnight, stewards ruled that Ricciardos car had "exceeded consistently the maximum allowed fuel flow" and that the team refused an instruction from the races technical delegate Charlie Whiting to change the fuel-flow sensor before the race and a further request during the race to reduce the fuel flow. Josh Allen Jersey . Justine finished first with a score of 22.44 while Chloe was second with 21.66 points. Defending champion Hannah Kearney of the U.S., was third at 21.49. A third Dufour-Lapointe sister, Maxime, failed to make the final group and finished 12th while Audrey Robichaud of Quebec City was 10th. http://www.billsnflgears.com/Black-Star-Lotulelei-Bills-Jersey.html?cat=983 . -- The Minnesota Twins have granted relief pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release, making the 35-year-old right-hander a free agent. Harrison Phillips Bills Jersey . Trailing 5-4 in the third set, the 12th-ranked Isner fought off two match points and evened it at 5-5 with consecutive aces. The former University of Georgia star had his only service break of the match to go up 6-5 before firing the last four of his 30 aces to close out Ginepri, an Atlanta resident ranked 281st. Jeremy Kerley Bills Jersey . They all do actually — Joel-Hans Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) July 22, 2014There is no confirmation that the date is actually happening, but that didnt stop Embiid from getting dressed up. Fresh cut..... Getting ready for dinner http://t.co/NNIfKyZQzx — Joel-Hans Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) July 23, 2014 Almost 930..AYIA NAPA, Cyprus -- With the country in turmoil, Ukraines national football team says it is a symbol of the countrys unity. The Ukrainians are scheduled to face the United States in a friendly on Wednesday in Cyprus, a match moved from Kharkiv to Larnaca for security reasons. "The national team is a symbol of unity because players come from all over Ukraine," said its captain Anatoliy Tymoshchuk on a wind-swept practice pitch behind the teams hotel in the coastal resort of Ayia Napa. "Were all one big family, were all united." Speaking ahead of the teams training session on Tuesday, Tymoshchuk said the troubles at home do weigh on players minds. "Its a dangerous situation," he said. "We have our families, we worry but we hope that we can keep the peace in Ukraine as quickly as possible." Team spokesman Alexander Glyvynskyy said Wednesdays match is dedicated to the people of Ukraine under the slogan "Peace for Ukraine." "We are not ready for war," Glyvynskyy said. "We hope that we can be good neighbours (with Russia) in the future." Ukraine coach Mykhailo Fomenko said he wanted his teams performance to send a message of unity back home. "Most important is unity and concentration, its important for all Ukrainians," Fomenko said. "I told the players to play like one unit." Despite threats to cancel the match, Ukraine football association president Anatoliy Konkov said Tuesday the game would go ahead. "(We) reached a consensus to play the USA after all," Konkov said in a statement that also praised the American team. "(They) stood behind us to protect the national iinterests and territorial integrity of Ukraine.dddddddddddd." The match, which will be played at Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, is a key warm-up for the United States ahead of this years World Cup. But for Ukraine, which failed to qualify for the tournament in Brazil, it will serve as preparation for the qualifying tournament for the 2016 European Championship. "This game is a huge opportunity, mainly for our European-based players, for those guys to prove to us that they are eager and hungry to jump on the train to the FIFA World Cup," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. Fomenko said earlier in Kyiv that he expects Wednesdays game to be similar in style to a Premier League match, since many of the American players play for English clubs. Glyvynskyy said he expects the Americans to play an attacking game, but that Ukraine is injury-free and has all its best players available. "The players want to play on an official level and want to test their level of play after a two-month winter break," he said. He added that Cyprus was an ideal location for the match because it was relatively simple to organize at short notice and there are no problems with visa issues. Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium has hosted many of Cyprus international matches, but its not the Mediterranean islands top football venue. The GSP Stadium in Nicosia, however, is unavailable because Cyprus is hosting Northern Ireland in another friendly. Its the second time in recent weeks that Cyprus has been selected as an alternate venue for a match involving a Ukrainian team. 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