The Tampa Bay Rays (17-10) defeated the Seattle Mariners (12-15) 8-7 on Friday night in Seattle. The win guarantees the Rays at least a split in the four game series with the Mariners, and also improves the team to a perfect 5-0 mark halfway through their West Coast road trip.
This was a back and forth game throughout - after the Mariners got a two run homer from Eugenio Suarez in the first inning, the Rays answered and built leads of 3-2 and 5-4. Jarred Kelenic hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to give Seattle a 6-5 lead, before Manuel Margot came through with the blast of the night in the ninth inning. His three-run ninth inning bomb to center would lift the Rays to 8-6 lead, and the team would hold on for an 8-7 win.
Matt Wisler was the opener on Friday night and pitched two innings in which he allowed two earned runs on two hits while striking out two and walking none. Josh Fleming relieved him with two and two thirds innings of work in which he allowed two earned runs on three hits while striking out one.
The Rays will now look to make it six wins in a row when they meet the Mariners again on Saturday night. First pitch from Seattle is scheduled for 9:10 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage at 8:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES