Sat May 17 22:50:23 2008

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Royals grant Soria contract extension

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Miami, FL (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals rewarded closer Joakim Soria on Saturday with a three-year contract extension.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, the contract does allow for three option years which could keep Soria in Kansas City through the 2014 season.

Soria went 2-3 with a 2.48 earned-run average and 17 saves in 62 appearances with the Royals last season, after the club picked him up in the Rule 5 draft from the San Diego Padres.

In 2008, the native of Mexico, who turns 24 on Sunday, reeled off 16 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings to start the season, just two-thirds of an inning shy of Hipolito Pichardo's club record.

Soria has recorded 11 saves in 18 games, fanning 20 and walking two over 17 1/3 frames.