ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- The Seattle Mariners beat up on Jake Odorizzi at home back in June, and they continued the drubbing Saturday at the Trop.
Odorizzi allowed a grand slam to Mitch Haniger and a two-run blast to Nelson Cruz, but it took the pitcing to hold on as the Mariners survived a 7-6 contest.
The Rays right-hander struggled through the first two innings, but after loading the bases in the second and not allowing a run, Odorizzi could not do the same in the third. Mitch Haniger just back from the disabled list, launched a grand slam into the seats in left to bust the game open to a 4-0 start.
Odorizzi allowed three more runs in the fourth, with Cruz's home run, his 31st of the year following up an RBI single by Yonder Alonso.
Tampa Bay originally took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with Wilson Ramos driving in Peter Bourjos with an RBI single, and in the third, Bourjos' RBI double scored Kevin Kiermaier from first base to cut the deficit from 4-1 to 4-2.
The Rays rally started in the sixth, as Steven Souza Jr. ended Mariners starter Ariel Miranda's night with a solo homer, his 26th of the year but his first off a left-handed pitcher this season. Ramos followed up with a single off reliever Emilio Pagan, and Lucas Duda followed with his 22nd homer of the year and fifth since being traded to Tampa Bay, cutting the deficit to 7-5.
But Tapa Bay would get just one hit over the final three innings, a solo homer by pinch-hitter Logan Morrison off Mariners closer Edwin Diaz, who then struck out Kiermaier and got pinch-hitter Corey Dickerson to ground out to end the game and notch his 27th save.
The loss drops the Rays to five games under .500 for the first time this season at 60-65.
Tapa Bay will look to salvage the finale of the series, with Blake Snell (1-6, 4.78 ERA) taking on Yovani Gallardo (5-8, 5.84 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 11:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Sykes Lakeland.