Wednesday’s 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays prevented a three-game sweep for the AL West-leading Seattle Mariners, who were led by George Kirby with one run allowed in six innings and a three-run home run by Cal Raleigh.
Seattle is the only division leader with a losing road record at 19-25 after going 3-6 on a trip to Cleveland, Miami, and Tampa Bay.
Kirby expressed his satisfaction, saying, “It’s just good to end the road trip on a good note. Happy flight.” Seattle closer Andrés Muñoz, who blew his second save in 15 chances on Monday, loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth inning after two walks and a hit by pitch, with the Mariners leading 5-1.
Richie Palacios struck out Trent Thornton, who recorded his first major league save when Amed Rosario grounded into a game-ending double play.
“Muny didn’t feel good today,” Mariners manager Scott Servais stated. “Just the whole body stuff, and that happens once in a while. You could tell right away he wasn’t on top of his game. A ton of credit to Thorny.”
For the sixth straight start, Kirby (7-5) gave up two runs or fewer while scattering four hits and striking out seven. Raleigh’s 14th home run off Shawn Armstrong (2-2) in the sixth inning gave Seattle a 3-1 lead. Raleigh scored on a 422-foot drive to right after the reliever walked the struggling Julio RodrÃguez, who had only three hits in his previous 32 at-bats. In the seventh, J.P. Crawford singled home two runs to make it 5-1.
“We had a bad trip,” said Servais. “It happens to the best teams in the league, and I do think we’re one of the best teams in the league.” Yandy DÃaz singled in the first inning to tie the Rays record set by Jason Bartlett in 2009 and extend his career-best hitting streak to 19 games.
Tampa Bay lost for just the third time in ten games, and they were 40–41 at the half. Last season, the Rays were 54-27 at this time on their way to an AL wild-card berth. Kevin Cash, manager of the Rays, stated, “We got work to do.” “I think that’s the easiest way to put it.”
DÃaz also scored an RBI infield single in the third inning. While first baseman Ty France was going toward second base on the play, Kirby collected DÃaz’s chopper between the mound and the first-base line but was unable to beat him to the bag.
José Caballero scored from second base after he had doubled. In 5 1/3 innings, Ryan Pepiot, the starter for the Rays, allowed just one run and one hit while striking out eight and walking two.
TRAINER’ ROOM: Mariners: OF Luke Raley was a late scratch because of soreness in his shoulder. Rays: Rosario (facial lacerations) went 0 for 4 in his first game back after being struck by a pitch on Saturday. 2B For the fourth straight game, Brandon Lowe was not in the starting lineup due to a broken right pinky toe.
