ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- The Philadelphia Phillies used a base hit by Jorge Alfaro with two out in the ninth off Alex Colome to break a 1-1 tie and take a 2-1 decision from the Tampa Bay Rays Friday at Tropicana Field.
COLOME'S STRUGGLES CONTINUE: The Rays closer did not blow a save Friday, but came into the game with the score tied to start the ninth. Colome (0-2) struck out Nick Williams to start the frame, but Scott Kingery took a 95 MPH fastball up out of the zone and doubled over Kiermaier's head. Aaron Altherr struck out for the second out of the inning before Alfaro's scorched ground ball went off third baseman Matt Duffy's glove and into left field, bringing in Kingery to break the tie.
FARIA HAS MUCH IMPROVED START: Rays right-hander Jake Faria threw 73 pitches in his last start and failed to get out of the second inning in Boston. He threw five more pitches Friday than he did on April 7, and experienced much more success.
Faria left one out into the sixth inning Friday with a 1-0 lead, allowing just three hits and a pair of walks while striking out seven.
Philadelphia tied the game on a base hit by Carlos Santana on reliever Jose Alvarado on his first pitch, preventing Faria from earning the decision, though the left-hander struck out Odubel Herrera and after an intentional walk to Rhys Hoskins, Nick Williams to keep the game tied.
RAYS SQUANDER CHANCES: After a Mallex Smith single in the second scored C.J. Cron with Tampa Bay's only run. Vince Velasquez and the Phillies staff were able to keep the Rays from adding on the rest of the way. The Rays had a chance in the fourth to make it 2-0 when Altherr dropped a Duffy fly ball in deep left, but the Rays third baseman was thrown out at second base before Joey Wendle could make it around from first base to score.
Tampa Bay also stranded runners at third base in both the seventh and eighth innings with a chance to break the tie. The Rays were just 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left six on base total.
SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
Rays vs Philadelphia Phillies, Tropicana Field, 6:10 first pitch, coverage on WDAE starts at 5:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Crown Eurocars.
Rays starter - RHP Chris Archer (1-0, 5.94 ERA)
Phillies starter - RHP Jake Arrietta (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Sunday - Rays vs Philadelphia Phillies, 1:10 p.m. first pitch
Monday - Rays vs Texas Rangers, 7:10 p.m. first pitch
Tuesday - Rays vs Texas Rangers, 7:10 p.m. first pitch
Wednesday - Rays vs Texas Rangers, 1:10 p.m. first pitch