The Texas Rangers (56-39) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (60-37) 3-2 on Monday night in Arlington, Texas.
The Rays built a 2-0 lead thanks to a Randy Arozarena sacrifice fly in the first and a Josh Lowe solo homer in the second inning.
For a while it looked as though that may be enough, because ace Shane McClanahan was dealing in his first start coming off the IL. He pitched five shutout innings until allowing a two-run homer to Ezequiel Duran in the sixth inning. He finished the game allowing two earned runs on three hits in six innings while striking out six and walking none.
The game would be decided in the ninth inning, with Pete Fairbanks on the mound. After allowing a leadoff double to Josh Jung, pinch runner Josh H. Smith came into the game and got to third base as Fairbanks got the next two outs. However, Fairbanks threw a wild pitch with two outs that allowed Smith to score and gave the Rangers the 3-2 win.
The Rays and Rangers meet in the middle game of the three game series on Tuesday afternoon. Taj Bradley is scheduled to start for the Rays, while former Ray Nathan Eovaldi is expected to start for Texas. First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 8:05 PM - Ronnie Lane begins pregame coverage with the Inside Pitch at 7:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES