The Texas Rangers (63-81) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (80-64) 4-3 on Friday night at Tropicana Field. After losing six of their last eight, Tampa Bay enters Saturday seven games behind the Yankees in the AL East standings, and a game and a half behind Toronto for the top AL Wild Card spot.
The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the second inning after RBIs from Francisco Mejia and Jose Siri. Texas stormed back with four runs of their own in the third inning. Francisco Mejia hit a RBI double in the sixth inning to pull the Rays within 4-3, but that would be as close as the Rays would get.
Corey Kluber (10-9, 4.44) allowed four earned runs on nine hits while striking out six in five and two-thirds innings of work.
The Rays look to bounce back when they meet the Rangers in the second game of the three game series on Saturday. First pitch from Tropicana Field on Saturday is scheduled for 6:10 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage at 5:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES