Rays Bats Wake Up To Snap Losing Streak

ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) — The Tampa Bay Rays used a three-run second inning to break a 1-1 tie, ending their eight game losing streak with a 7-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners Saturday at Tropicana Field.

Rays starter Blake Snell allowed an unearned run in the top of the first inning after an Infield single by Jean Segura coupled with an error by Jake Bauers allowed Seattle to get a runner in scoring position to begin the contest.  Nelson Cruz drew a one-out walk and Kyle Seager grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Segura to make it 1-0.

Tampa Bay immediately responded with a run off Felix Hernandez as Jake Bauers got his first major league hit, a double, and scored on an RBI double by Matt Duffy.

The Rays took their first lead an inning later with Mallex Smith and Christian Arroyo both singling off Hernandez (6-5) before Rob Refsnyder's flare fell in and Segura's error allowed Smith to score and break the tie.  Groundouts by Jesus Sucre and Daniel Robertson each plated a run and gave Tampa Bay a 4-1 lead.

Smith came within a blink of his first home run of 2018 in the third, but his blast to right off Hernandez hit off the top of the fence for an RBI triple, scoring Carlos Gomez, and Arroyo brought him in one batter later to make it a 6-1 game.

Snell allowed a solo Homer to Cruz in the fifth, but it would not be enough to take the win away from the left-hander, who improved to 8-3 on the year.

Seattle got a third run off Rays reliever Diego Castillo in the seventh, but Tampa Bay came back in the bottom half of the inning to re-establish a four-day lead.

Chaz Roe worked the final 1 1/3 innings to earn his first career save.

SUNDAY'S MATCHUP

Tampa Bay Rays (29-34) vs. Seattle Mariners (40-24), 1:10 p.m. first pitch, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 11:00 a.m. with The Inside Pitch presented by Crown Eurocars.

Rays starter - RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 3.27 ERA),

Mariners starter - LHP James Paxton (5-1, 2.95 ERA)


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