The Tampa Bay Rays (1-0) defeated the Baltimore Orioles (0-1) 2-1 on Friday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
Shane McClanahan got the start for the Rays, and after hitting Cedric Mullens to lead off the game, settled in nicely. Brandon Lowe gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the third inning, and McClanahan was pulled with one out in the fifth inning.
The Orioles tied the game in the sixth inning when Anthony Santander hit a solo home run to center field off Matt Wisler.
The Rays would answer in the eighth inning. After Wander Franco singled, Ji-Man Chi walked, then Randy Arozarena beat out an infield hit to load the bases. Though Brandon Lowe grounded into a forceout at home that prevented a runner from scoring, Francisco Mejia came through with a sacrifice fly to center that drove in what would prove to be the game winning run.
McClanahan finished the game throwing 68 pitches, 44 for strikes, while working four and a third shutout innings. He allowed four hits while striking out seven and walking two. The Rays used a bullpen combination of JT Chargois, Matt Wisler (BS, 1), Jeffrey Springs, Andrew Kittredge (1-0, 0.00), JP Feyereisen and Brooks Raley to close the deal.
For Raley, he faced one batter - the final out of the game - and struck him out to pick up a save in his very first appearance for Tampa Bay.
Wander Franco had the best day at the plate for any of the Rays, going 3-for-4. His final hit to lead off the eighth inning was huge in setting the table for Tampa Bay to pull out the win.
The Rays now have a chance to win the three game series when they play Baltimore again on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM on Saturday - pregame coverage begins with Neil Solondz at 12:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES