Game 64: Seattle Mariners 5 Rays 4— Postgame News and Notes
Tampa Bay took a brief lead against Seattle’s top pitcher on Sunday, only to see the Mariners come back and edge the Rays 5–4. The Rays dropped three of four in the series against the AL West leaders.
Down 3–1, the Mariners drew even in the sixth against Rays starter Nathan Eovaldi. Ben Gamel singled to right, and Mike Zunino then drilled a 3–2 pitch in left-center for his 10th homer, tying the score. It ended Eovaldi’s day at 101 pitches (70 for strikes). He gave up four hits and struck out three.
Chaz Roe got the three outs in the sixth, then gave way to Jose Alvarado in the seventh. Alvarado walked Nelson Cruz on four pitches, then fell behind 3–1 on Kyle Seager before he ripped a two-run homer to right, his 12th, for a 5–3 advantage. It was the first homer Alvarado has allowed this year.
After James Paxton was lifted after seven strong innings (10 strikeouts and 0 walks), the Rays rallied in the eighth. James Pazos faced two hitters, and allowed the second batter Joey Wendle to single to center. Alex Colome entered, and walked CJ. Cron. Matt Duffy grounded into a 3–6 fielder’s choice, putting runners at the corners. Wilson Ramos lined an RBI single to center, getting the Rays within a run. However, Jake Bauers grounded hard to second, ending the inning.
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Edwin Diaz came on for the ninth and earned his MLB-leading 23rd save. Johnny Field had a one-out infield single. With two out, Carlos Gomez hit a bloop single to right that fell in. Field was sent home when the ball was bobbled, and was thrown out by a good margin by Mitch Haniger. Third base coach Matt Quatraro spoke about taking a chance sending Field in the 9th:
Field said he was just running hard and simply listening to Quatraro on the final play. Manager Kevin Cash pointed out that this is the latest in a number of times where bad baserunning has come back to bite the Rays this season.
The Mariners are now 21–9 in one-run games, the most victories in baseball.
Tampa Bay had scored three runs in the third and fourth against James Paxton to take a momentary lead. In the third, Field hit a ground-rule double to left, the first hit off Paxton. A Rob Refsnyder deep flyout to center moved Field to third, and he scored on Mallex Smith’s groundout that was chopped over the mound.
Then in the fourth, CJ Cron hit an opposite field homer to right for a 2–1 lead, his second of the series and 15th of the year. Matt Duffy doubled to left, and two batters later scored to make it 3–1 on Jake Bauers’ first RBI on a double to right.
Seattle had taken a 1–0 lead in the second when Cruz drilled a line-drive homer to left-center, his 13th and second of the series.
Daniel Robertson was pulled from the game after his first at-bat with hamstring tightness. The Rays infielder doesn’t believe it’s anything serious but won’t know more information for sure until tomorrow.
The Rays open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. Coverage on the Rays Radio Network begins at 6:30 p.m. and Dave and Andy will have the call with first pitch at 7:10.
