The Tampa Bay Rays (18-10) defeated the Seattle Mariners (12-16) 8-2 late Saturday night in the Pacific Northwest. The Rays have now won six in a row - all of them on a West Coast trip which they have started a remarkable 6-0.
The Rays scored on a Seattle throwing error in the third, before Brandon Lowe hit his first home run since April 14th in the fourth inning, and Tampa Bay had a 2-0 lead. Seattle got a run back in the fifth, but Brandon Lowe hit his second homer of the game in the sixth inning to give the Rays a 3-1 lead.
The Rays broke the game open with a five-run eighth inning. Manuel Margot hit a grand slam that made the game 8-1 and added huge insurance. Abraham Toro hit a homer in the ninth inning to account for Seattle's second run as the Rays would win by the final margin of 8-2.
Drew Rasmussen (3-1, 2.89) pitched five good innings in which he allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out five and walking two. A bullpen of Colin Poche, Brooks Raley and Ralph Garza, Jr., closed out the win.
The Rays will now look to sweep a four game series against the Mariners on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Seattle is scheduled for 4:10 PM on Sunday - Neil Solondz begins the pregame coverage at 2:30 PM with This Week In Rays Baseball on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES