The Tampa Bay Rays (77-51) beat the Colorado Rockies (48-78) 6-5 in ten innings on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.
Aaron Civale got the start and allowed three earned runs on four hits in five innings in which he threw 80 pitches. After he was lifted, the Rockies got to the Rays and Colin Poche for four runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead.
Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 5-3, which would be the score of this game late. In the bottom of the ninth inning, still trailing by two, the Rays were able to load the bases after getting hits from Jose Siri and Josh Lowe, and a walk from Rene Pinto.
Yandy Diaz was the ninth inning hero, coming through with a two-run single to tie the game 5-5. That would be the score heading into extra innings - in the top of the tenth inning, Pete Fairbanks (2-4, 2.65) worked a 1-2-3 frame (including two strikeouts) to keep the Rockies off the board.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, with Osleivis Basabe as the ghost runner at second base, Brandon Lowe came through with a base hit to give the Rays a 6-5 win.
The Rays now look to sweep the series when the two teams meet in the finale of the three game series on Thursday afternoon. First pitch Thursday is scheduled for 1:10 PM - Jay Recher & Zac Blobner begin pregame coverage with the Inside Pitch at high noon on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES