Kansas City @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2011 ) Kansas City 7, Tampa Bay 8

THE STORY: If the Tampa Bay Rays pull off a miracle and play in the postseason, they will likely look at Wednesday night’s comeback as the major spark that allowed it to happen. The Rays scored five in the bottom of the ninth inning to win their third straight game and stayed within 8½ games of the Yankees in the wild-card race. Jeff Niemann will go to the mound Thursday afternoon to try to finish a four-game sweep of the visiting Kansas City Royals. The Rays are 6-3 on their homestand with one game left and 30-28 overall at home. The Royals have lost five of their last six games.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, MLB.com TV

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (3-5, 5.08) vs. Rays RH Jeff Niemann (6-4, 3.58).

Duffy gave up three runs over five innings in a loss at Detroit his last outing after winning his previous two decisions. The 22-year-old rookie has struck out 64, and allowed 36 walks and 11 homers in 72 2/3 innings. Duffy, a third-round pick in the 2007 draft, has never faced Tampa Bay. Niemann allowed four runs over 8 2/3 innings to win his fifth straight decision in his last start. He has not lost since May 5. Niemann has only 20 walks in 83 innings. He is 3-0 lifetime against the Royals with a 1.15 ERA over 31 1/3 innings. Niemann gave up two earned runs in six innings July 23 against Kansas City without getting a decision. Current Royals are batting .206 against Niemann, including Billy Butler's 1-for-13.

ABOUT THE ROYALS (49-68): Kansas City seemed to have done enough Wednesday, scoring more than four runs for only the second time in its last 20 games at Tropicana Field. But Joakim Soria blew his second save in his last four opportunities. Set-up man Aaron Crow started the ninth and gave up two hits and two runs. Crow has allowed nine hits and walked six in nine innings since being named to the All-Star team. Melky Cabrera is 5-for-11 and Alcides Escobar 4-for-10 in the series. Butler is 2-for-24 with one RBI in the last six games after knocking in 19 in the previous 10.

ABOUT THE RAYS (62-54): Sam Fuld hasn’t played much since Desmond Jennings was recalled from Triple A Durham to play left field. But when he was called upon Wednesday, Fuld responded by reaching base all five times - two hits and three walks - and scored the winning run. He is 3-for-3 on the homestand and has scored four runs in his last five games. Matt Joyce batted in the lead-off spot for the first time this season and delivered three hits, including his first homer in two weeks. Casey Kotchman is 16-for-34 with three homers and seven RBIs on the homestand.

FINAL PITCH: Catcher Salvador Perez became the 11th player to make his major league debut for the Royals this season, the most of any team. Perez picked off two runners Wednesday - Royals’ catchers had none in the first 116 games.