The Tampa Bay Rays (23-19) blew out the New York Mets (18-16) 7-1 on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The win swept gives the Rays a three-game sweep over the Mets.
The Rays got their offense started with a two-run homer from Manuel Margot in the fourth inning. Then in the fifth, Willy Adames hit a two-run bomb that gave the Rays a 4-0 lead. After Patrick Maxeika homered in the sixth that gave the Mets their only offense of the night in the sixth, Brandon Lowe answered with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth that made it 5-1.
Tampa Bay added two more runs in the eighth inning to pull away, thanks in part to an RBI double from Ji-Man Choi, who was playing in his first game of the season after suffering a right knee injury in Spring Training. Choi finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored in his long awaited return to the lineup.
Josh Fleming (3-3, 2.34) got the win after pitching five shutout innings, allowing only one hit while striking out five and walking none.
The Rays are now off on Monday and head to Baltimore for a three game series against the Orioles that begins Tuesday night. First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 7:05 PM - pregame coverage begins at 6:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES