Michael Wacha tossed six strong innings, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 4-2 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.

After Isaac Paredes’ two-out solo homer, his 14th, put the Rays ahead in the first, Wacha (5-6) permitted just one other hit and no more runs. He walked three and struck out eight to earn his first win since May 20.

It was the 43rd quality start by a Kansas City pitcher, third most in the majors.

Wacha has allowed two runs or fewer in seven consecutive starts, posting a 2.21 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings.

The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the third, highlighted by Bobby Witt Jr.’s RBI double into the left field corner. Witt scored on Vinnie Pasquantino’s single to center.

Pasquantino has collected an RBI in eight of nine games during the current homestand, and his 43 home-field RBIs lead the majors. Witt and Pasquantino each collected a pair of hits.

Working long counts, Kansas City forced 87 pitches in four innings from Ryan Pepiot. He walked three with no strikeouts, allowing two runs on four hits. Pepiot (4-5) is 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA in his past five starts.

Rays reliever Shawn Armstrong walked two in the seventh ahead of Salvador Perez’s two-run single that put the Royals up 4-1.

Royals reliever Chris Stratton retired just one of four batters he faced in the eighth, allowing back-to-back doubles by Randy Arozarena and Amed Rosario that cut Kansas City’s lead to 4-2.

With help from Kyle Isbel’s leaping catch against the center field wall in the ninth, James McArthur recorded the final five outs for his 15th save and his eighth straight scoreless appearance.

The Royals have won six of nine during the homestand that concludes Thursday evening.

Paredes has reached base safely in 14 straight games, amassing seven extra-base hits and eight RBIs in that span.

Rosario had two of the Rays’ five hits.

Tampa Bay has won 9 of 13 and will try for its fifth straight series win in the set’s decisive game on Thursday.

–Field Level Media