KANSAS CITY — Royals right-hander Brad Keller, making his first start since coming off his five-game suspension, struggled early on, giving up four runs in the first two innings in the Royals’ 8-5 loss to the Rays on Monday night.

The Rays’ first run came home with plenty of assistance from Keller. Ji-Man Choi walked, went to second on a wild pitch, went to third on a balk and then scored on a single by Yandy Diaz.

Tommy Pham launched a two-run triple to center that just eluded center fielder Chris Owings in the second.

The Royals fought back in the third. With one out, Martín Maldonado reached on an error, and then Whit Merrifield walked. Adalberto Mondesi followed with a two-run triple into the right-field corner, his fifth triple of the season. Alex Gordon then drove in Mondesi with a sacrifice fly.

In the seventh, Royals right fielder Jorge Soler launched a monster home run over the left-field fountains. Statcast estimated it traveled 447 feet.