Drew Rasmussen took a no-hit try into the sixth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 on Saturday.

Rasmussen, who lost his perfect game last Sunday when Baltimore’s Jorge Mateo opened the ninth with a double, walked MJ Melendez leading off the Royals first.

Melendez got the Royals’ first hit when he lined a single into center past Rasmussen with one out in the sixth. Bobby Witt Jr. doubled before Ramussen’s final batter, Salvador Perez, hit a sacrifice fly.

Rasmussen (8-4) gave up two runs, two hits and one walk along with eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Brooks Raley replaced Rasmussen and allowed an RBI single to Vinnie Pasquantino that got the Royals within 4-2.

After Pasquantino reached on an error by third baseman Isaac Paredes with one out in the first, Rasmussen retired 14 in a row.

Peter Fairbanks, the third Tampa Bay reliever, worked the ninth to get his third save and complete a four-hitter.

The Rays, who hold the third and final AL wild card spot, have won six of eight.

Six of the first eight Rays’ batters had hits off Kris Bubic (2-8), who allowed four runs, eight hits and two walks over 3 innings.

Kansas City has dropped five of six and have been held to six hits or fewer a team record-tying five consecutive games.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Zack Greinke (4-8), winless in six road decisions this year, starts Sunday. Rays LHP Ryan Yarbrough (1-7) get the start. Pregame begins at noon, with game time at 12:40 p.m. You can hear the broadcast of the Royals’ Radio Network on KMMO AM 1300.