straightened out that need to be straightened out, and well

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Salvador Perez hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning that carried the Kansas City Royals to a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.Perezs 16th homer came off Xavier Cedeno (3-3) after a single by Eric Hosmer. It lifted the Royals to their 12th win in their last 13 games against Tampa Bay.Chris Young (3-8) got the win in relief, and Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth for his third save.The Rays scored twice in the fifth off starter Yordano Ventura without hitting the ball to the outfield. Logan Forsythe walked and later scored on Kevin Kiermaiers bunt single. After Brad Millers infield single, Desmond Jennings scored Kiermaier with a groundout to shortstop.Forsythe had three hits for the Rays, who left 11 on base and went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position.Ventura pitched five innings, giving up two runs, six hits and four walks.Rays starter Matt Andriese pitched four innings in his first start since June 25, giving up one run on three hits while striking out three. Andriese returned to the rotation following Mondays trade of Matt Moore to the San Francisco Giants.Perez has 20 RBI in his last 20 games and a 14-game hitting streak against Tampa Bay.DISAPPOINTED LONGOTampa Bay slugger Evan Longoria said it was disappointing to see Moore, INF Steve Pearce and OF Brandon Guyer traded in separate deals Monday that netted SS Matt Duffy from San Francisco and five prospects.You see three guys like those three guys leave sometimes its a little tough to stomach, Longoria said. Well move forward and hopefully the guys we got in return will be the players that we expect.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: RHP Luke Hochevar had season-ending surgery to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome. The Royals expect him to be recovered by spring training. ... LHP Mike Minor, coming back from left shoulder surgery, struck out five and allowed two hits over 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his second rehab start for Triple-A Omaha.Rays: OF Mikie Mahtook (fractured left hand) went 1 for 3 with a walk in his first rehab game with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Rays. ... Touted shortstop prospect Daniel Robertson has been placed on the disabled list with Triple-A Durham.UP NEXTEdinson Volquez (8-9) will make his team-leading 23rd start for the Royals on Wednesday night against Jake Odorizzi (5-5), who is working on a steak of 14 2/3 scoreless innings for the Rays. Gregory Polanco Pirates Jersey . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. Colin Moran Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.pittsburghpiratesprostore.us/Erik-Gonzalez-pirates-jersey/ . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Adam Frazier Jersey . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Lonnie Chisenhall Pirates Jersey .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- If the Detroit Lions needed any reminders of the challenges still ahead, all they had to do was turn on the television a few hours after their victory Sunday.The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys -- Detroits next two opponents -- were playing a tough, defensive struggle that went down to the wire. And yes, Lions coach Jim Caldwell watched.Start to finish, he said.It was another successful weekend for the Lions, who edged Chicago 20-17 on Sunday to remain two games ahead of Minnesota and Green Bay atop the NFC North.The day wasnt exactly perfect, though. The Vikings and Packers both won, and Green Bay did so in emphatic fashion, beating Seattle 38-10.If Detroit loses either of its next two games, the division title could be at stake in the regular-season finale against the Packers.If the season ended now, the Lions (9-4) would be the No. 2 seed in the NFC, but road games against the Giants (9-4) next weekend and the Cowboys (11-2) on Dec. 26 could change all that.And its not just Green Bay thats surging. Tampa Bay (8-5) has won five in a row, matching Detroit for the longest current winning streak in the league.Atlanta (8-5) and Washington (7-5-1) also won Sunday, underscoring how tough the race for the wild cards could be should the Lions fall into it.The big issue for Detroit this week is the health of quarterback Matthew Stafford, whose middle finger on his throwing hand was taped up and covered by a white glove Sunday.Caldwell, who rarely discusses injuries at any length, addressed Staffords status at Mondays news conference before anyone even had a chance to ask.The good thing about it, he was able to finish the game, went through it, and also that hes going to be able to play in the next game, Caldwell said. Hell be able to practice and those kiinds of things.dddddddddddd He feels that obviously he can get it done and also the doctors do as well.Stafford threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter Sunday. The first came off a fluky bounce in the end zone, but the second was returned for a touchdown that gave the Bears a 17-13 lead. Stafford led Detroit back down the field and scored the decisive TD on a 7-yard run.(The injury) affected him some yesterday when it first happened. I think you saw that through the course of the game, Caldwell said. But hes a tough guy, he battled through it and so now we have an opportunity to work with the doctors, get things straightened out that need to be straightened out, and well work through it this week, but he should be ready to go.While Stafford struggled, the Detroit defense played fine against Chicago. The Lions have held seven consecutive opponents to 20 points or fewer.Defensive lineman Haloti Ngata said watching the Giants-Cowboys game was helpful. The Giants won 10-7 , and Ngata could just focus on both offenses, knowing hed be seeing them up close soon.Just keep on winning games, thats all we need to do, he said.Game notes Ngata said the team was happy to have LB DeAndre Levy back against the Bears. He had three tackles and an assist in his return from a knee injury. Its awesome. Levys a player that can do so many things. Im just glad he was out there, even though its only for limited reps. Hes a phenomenal linebacker, Ngata said. Hopefully he can get back to his old self, once he gets a better feel.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL .---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '