The Tampa Bay Rays (81-64) defeated the Texas Rangers (63-82) 5-1 on Saturday night. The win evens the three game series at a game apiece and has the Rays trailing the Toronto Blue Jays by 1.5 games for the top AL Wild Card spot.
The Rays got runs in the first and third to build a early 2-1 lead. After Texas got a run in the fourth, Taylor Walls hit a solo homer in the fifth to get the run right back. Isaac Paredes added a RBI double in the seventh inning to make it 5-1.
Shawn Armstrong started the game, pitching an inning and two thirds of shutout baseball. he gave way to Ryan Yarbrough (2-0, 4.33) who allowed one earned run on four hits in his three innings of work. He struck out two and walked one in the winning effort.
The Rays and Rangers now meet in the rubber game of the three game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM on Saturday - pregame coverage begins with Neil Solondz hosting This Week In Rays Baseball at 11:30 AM on 620 AM WDAE.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES