The Tampa Bay Rays (51-22) defeated the San Diego Padres (33-36) 6-2 on Friday night in San Diego. The Rays have now won three in a row on their California trip.
Shane McClanahan (11-1, 2.12) was brilliant in his start, allowing just one earned run on three hits in six and two thirds innings of work while striking out five. Pete Fairbanks came into the game with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth, but needed only two pitches to get his seventh save of the year when Fernando Tatis Jr grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
Randy Arozarena provided all the offense the Rays would need, thanks to a RBI single in the fourth and a three-run homer in the fifth.
The Rays and Padres now meet in the second game of their three game series on Saturday night. Zach Eflin is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay, while former Ray Blake Snell is expected to pitch for the Padres. First pitch Saturday night is scheduled for 7:10 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage at 6:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES