ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) _ Steve Trachsel liked his effort, just not the outcome against the Kansas City Royals.

Tampa Bay's opening day starter, facing the Royals for the second time in five days, pitched well but gave up solo homers to Joe Randa and David McCarty in a 5-3 loss Wednesday.

Jeff Suppan, the Royals' opening day starter, limited the Devil Rays to four hits in six scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out two after missing his last scheduled start because of back spasms.

Although manager Larry Rothschild hasn't made an official announcement that Trachsel will start Tampa Bay's season opener next Monday at Minnesota, the right-hander who drew the opening day assignment for the Chicago Cubs a year ago was told Tuesday.

``I'm ready,'' Trachsel said after allowing three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings. ``I feel like I've thrown the ball well and gotten stronger each time out. I felt strong going to the seventh inning and still felt strong when I left.''

Randa hit his sixth homer in the second. McCarty, who has five homers this spring, hit his first since being obtained from the Oakland Athletics to give the Royals a 2-0 lead in the sixth.

Rey Sanchez finished Trachsel's day with a RBI single in the seventh. Jorge Fabregas added a two-run single off Norm Charlton in the eighth.

Tampa Bay broke through on Gerald Williams' RBI single off Jose Santiago in the seventh. Dave Martinez had a two-run single off Archie Corbin in the ninth. ^Notes: Devil Rays 3B Vinny Castilla, who hasn't played since March 14 because of a strained muscle near the rib cage, remains day-to-day ... Right-hander Juan Guzman, bothered by a sore shoulder, threw on the side and has not had a setback after pitching three innings in a simulated game. He could be in line to return for Tampa Bay's April 7 home opener against Cleveland ... Although Rothschild has not announced his rotation, it appears that the release of John Burkett and Chad Ogea means Dan Wheeler and Esteban Yan will be included ... The Royals' Carlos Beltran went 1-for-3 and has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games. He's hitting .454 during that span.