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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Elliot Johnson has some fond memories of his years with the Rays. None might have been sweeter than his return to Tampa Bay with the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night. Johnson had a three three-run homer for his second hit of an eight-run sixth inning, leading the surging Royals to a 10-1 victory over the Rays. "Its hard to describe the first time back," he said. "I wish everyone would get a chance to understand what its like and its really hard even to put into words." Traded to Kansas City by the Rays in February, Johnson led off the big inning with a single and chased Jeremy Hellickson (4-3) with his second homer of the season, both coming off Hellickson. Johnson got his third hit of the game in the eighth inning and is 6 for 11 with four RBIs against his former team while batting .202 with three RBIs against every other team. "When they came into our place, I had a good series there," Johnson said. "I wasnt really playing that well, and Ned (Yost) gave me some opportunities to play against them. I picked it up and today played well again. Its good to get them anyway you can, but it feels good to get them against them, of course. (Former Rays pitcher James) Shields said the same thing; he wishes he could pitch here." "He gets fired up playing against these guys and he really helped us out today," said Eric Hosmer, who homered off Jake Odorizzi in the seventh. Ervin Santana (5-5) gave up five hits and an unearned run in 7 2-3 innings. The Royals, who have won eight of nine, set a franchise record by holding an opponent to three runs or fewer in a 12th straight game. "Everything is going our way right now so we have to keep that up," Santana said. Hellickson lost for the first time since April 25, giving up eight runs on 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings. He retired 15 of the 16 Royals he faced in the first five innings. "He was locating his fastball and his changeup really kept us off stride," said Kansas City bench coach Chino Cadiha, who was acting manger while Yost attended his daughters wedding in Georgia. "I guess we figured it out in the sixth, and here we go." Johnson led off the sixth inning of a scoreless game with his first hit. After Alcides Escobars double, Alex Gordon drove in the first run with Kansas Citys third straight hit. Three more singles and an RBI double by Miguel Tejada preceded Johnsons homer to give the Royals an 8-0 lead. In all the Royals sent 11 men to the plate in the inning. "I just fell behind to Elliot, the first batter of the inning, and just couldnt stop it after that," Hellickson said. "Im pretty frustrated. It wasnt a fun game. Eight runs, its unacceptable." It was the Royals biggest inning of the season, exceeding the seven runs they scored in the third inning at Los Angeles on May 15. Gordon had two hits in raising his road batting average to .381, compared to .231 at home. Matt Joyce had two hits for the Rays, who have lost four of five. NOTES: The Rays optioned Odorizzi to Triple-A Durham after the game and took pitcher Alex Cobb off the bereavement list. ... Tampa Bay LHP David Price (strained left triceps) threw 54 pitches over three innings in a simulated game. The AL Cy Young Award winner could rejoin the rotation in late June or early July. ... Rays 3B Evan Longoria got his second break from playing on the artificial turf in five games, getting the start as the DH. Kelly Johnson made his first start this season at third in place of Longoria. ... RHP Nate Adcock, designated for assignment by the Royals on June 6, was claimed on waivers by Arizona. He was optioned to Triple-A Reno. ... Tampa Bay LHP Matt Moore (8-2) looks to stop a two-game skid, in which he allowed 15 runs, in Friday nights game with the Royals. RHP Luis Mendoza (1-3) will start for Kansas City. Swell Flasche Marmor .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Swell Flasche 500 Ml . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. http://www.swellflascheschweiz.ch/ . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Hydro Flask Schweiz . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. Swell Bottle Schweiz Kaufen . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. WASHINGTON --?Gerrit Cole returned from the disabled list Saturday night after breezing through a pair of minor league rehab starts.The Washington Nationals provided a tougher test.Cole lasted just four innings in his return for Pittsburgh, Tanner Roark pitched eight-plus innings of five-hit ball, and the Nationals beat the Pirates 6-0.Recovering from a right triceps strain, Cole (5-5) pitched eight scoreless innings in his Triple-A appearances, rarely working with men on base. Against Washington, he allowed seven hits and walked two.I just didnt execute enough pitches. If I made one quality pitch I followed it up with a subpar [one], he said. The ball was elevated, especially out of the stretch. I got crushed.The 2015 All-Star allowed five runs -- four earned -- with five strikeouts.ddddddddddddYou can go pitch in the minor leagues forever and thats not always going to help, manager Clint Hurdle said. He needs to get back here and help us and get involved in the fight with us. I saw some good things.Coles first major league appearance since June 10 was delayed 71 minutes by rain. Washington wasted little time scoring with single runs in the first and second innings plus three in the fourth, aided by second baseman Josh Harrisons throwing error, for a 5-0 lead.The Pirates