Game 27: Rays 8 Seattle Mariners 7 — Postgame News and Notes
The Rays on Friday lost a pair of leads, but the third time was the charm. Manuel Margot’s three-run homer in the ninth inning was the difference. Tampa Bay (17–10) has won five straight games after an 8–7 win in Seattle. The Rays, 4–1 against the Mariners, have also won the season series too.
The Rays were down 6–5 entering the ninth and Randy Arozarena, who had a four-hit night, began the last Tampa Bay go-ahead rally with a one-out single to left off Paul Sewald. Brandon Lowe, who reached base four times, lined a single to center. Manuel Margot, who had entered in the seventh defensively, drilled a homer to center field, his first of the season, for an 8–6 lead.
That put Ryan Thompson on the winning side of the ledger, despite his toughest outing of the young season. Thompson. who had not allowed an earned run this year, came on with one out in the eighth and 5–4 lead and Julio Rodriguez beat out a slow roller to short for an infield hit. Jarred Kelenic pinch-hit for Dylan Moore, and Kelenic, hitting .127 belted a two-run homer to right-center for a 6–5 lead.
Then in the ninth, Thompson allowed a leadoff homer to Eugenio Suarez, his second of the game, making it 8–7. However, Brooks Raley came on to get the final three outs, ending the contest. For Raley it was his second save in as many days.
Tampa Bay moved in front in the top of the seventh against Andres Munoz, the third Seattle pitcher. Wander Franco walked and Arozarena singled to right, his third hit. Lowe was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Harold Ramirez hit a ground ball deep to the hold at short. Franco scored as Arozarena was forced out at third, giving Tampa Bay a 5–4 advantage.
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Tampa Bay had tied the game at four in the fifth against starter Logan Gilbert. The righty had retired eight consecutive Rays hitters before Arozarena doubled with one out. Lowe then walked, and Ramirez hit a dribbler to third for an infield hit. Eugenio Suarez made an errant throw, scoring Arozarena to tie the game at four. However, Lowe was thrown out trying to advance to third.
Seattle initially took the lead in the first against opener Matt Wisler. Adam Frazier doubled to right to start the home first. After Wisler retired the next two batters, Suarez drilled a slider over the wall in left for a 2–0 lead. It was Suarez’s fifth of the season, and also made him 6-for-11 with four homers off the Rays righty.
Wisler then retired his final four batters faced to finish two innings. The two runs allowed are the only ones Wisler has given up in the three times he’s opened.
Tampa Bay did answer in the second against Gilbert, who began the day having allowed two earned runs in five starts. Taylor Walls walked with one out to start the rally, and Francisco Mejia singled to center. After Brett Phillips struck out looking for the second out, Yandy Diaz, Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena delivered RBI two-out singles for a 3–2 advantage. Gilbert threw 36 pitches in the frame.
Josh Fleming pitching in bulk for the Rays, worked a scoreless third inning, but Seattle moved back in front in the fourth. Suarez walked, and Jesse Winker then chopped a double up the left field line, putting runners at second and third. Abraham Toro then hit a sac fly to left-center, advancing both runners to tie the game at three. Julio Rodriguez walked on four pitches, and Dylan Moore then lined a single to left for a 4–3 advantage.
Jalen Beeks finished the fifth and worked a scoreless sixth after Fleming. JP Feyereisen got the next four outs, working around a pair of walks in the seventh. That set the stage for the late-game drama.
Game three of the four-game set is on Saturday, with Drew Rasmussen (2–1 3.13) starting opposite lefty Marco Gonzales (1–3 4.05). Coverage on the Rays Radio Network begins at 8:30 p.m. and Dave and Andy will have the call with first pitch at 9:10.
