The Tampa Bay Rays (56-37) defeated the Seattle Mariners (47-49) 6-1 on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field. With the win, the Rays have won the final series before the All-Star Break, on the day they recognized former Ray Evan Longoria as a member of the Rays Hall of Fame.
The Mariners scored in the second inning when Colt Emerson hit a sacrifice fly that gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead. That would be the only offense Seattle got off Griffin Jax (5-6, 3.47) who allowed just the one earned run in five innings of work in which he allowed four hits while striking out three and walking three.
The Rays tied the game in the bottom of the second thanks to a RBI double from Ben Williamson, then broke the tie in the third with a RBI double from Jonathan Aranda. The Rays broke it open in the bottom of the seventh when Ryan Vilade hit a three-run homer that made it 5-1, then added an insurance run from Nick Fortes in the eighth that made it 6-1.
The Rays will now try to sweep the Mariners in the final game before the All-Star Break on Sunday afternoon. Ian Seymour (6-1, 4.11) is scheduled to start for the Rays and face Emerson Hancock (6-4, 3.32) for Seattle. First pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 1:40 PM - pregame coverage begins with Chris Adams-Wall hosting This Week in Rays Baseball at high noon on 95.7 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of the Rays.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES