Royals 7, Rays 3: Alex Gordon belted a three-run homer as Kansas City scored five times in the fifth inning to defeat visiting Tampa Bay in the rubber match of the three-game series.

Gordon’s blast was the first of the year for Kansas City and gave him two hits and matched his career best of four RBIs while Eric Hosmer added two singles and scored twice for the Royals. Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie (2-0) allowed one run and four hits with four strikeouts over seven innings while retiring the last 12 batters he faced.

Desmond Jennings recorded a solo homer and an RBI double for the Rays, who have dropped eight of their last 10 against the Royals. Tampa Bay starter Jake Odorizzi (1-1) yielded seven runs and 10 hits – six in the fifth inning -- and struck out four over five frames.

The Rays left five on base in the first three innings, but Jennings led off the fourth by lining his first homer of the season over the center-field fence. Johnny Giavotella led off the Royals’ half of the fourth with a single and later scored on Billy Butler’s fielder’s choice before Gordon’s RBI base hit made it 2-1 later in the frame.

The Royals broke it open in the fifth as Lorenzo Cain reached on an infield hit and came home on Norichika Aoki’s triple before he scored on a Giavotella sacrifice fly. Hosmer and Butler followed with singles before Gordon lifted a three-run homer to right on a 0-1 pitch with two outs for a 7-1 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kansas City C Salvador Perez was 4-of-8 with four walks in the series. … Rays LHP Matt Moore was scheduled to be examined by Dr. James Andrews, the team’s medical director, on Wednesday after an MRI on his sore left elbow was inconclusive. … The Royals recalled 2B Giavotella and activated RHP Louis Coleman from the 15-day disabled and optioned RHP Aaron Brooks and LHP Donnie Joseph to the minor leagues.