Rays rally in 9th, beat Mariners 7-6 to avoid sweep

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays struggled throughout a six-game homestand in opposition to a pair of last-place groups however have been in a position to break even attributable to three walk-off wins.

Kevin Kiermaier drove in 4 runs, together with a solo homer throughout a two-run ninth inning, and the Rays averted a three-game sweep by beating the Seattle Mariners 7-6 on Wednesday.

”We did sufficient to win right this moment,” Kiermaier stated. ”You may name it an unpleasant win or no matter, we’ll take as many as we will.”

Kiermaier tied it at 6-6 on a leadoff homer in opposition to Matt Magill (3-1). The Rays then loaded the bases on Willy Adames’ single, a double by Mike Brosseau, and an intentional stroll to pinch-hitter Ji-Man Choi with no outs earlier than Magill’s wild pitch with Tommy Pham batting allowed Adames to attain the profitable run.

”Form of a bummer,” Magill stated. ”I value my teammates a win.”

Daniel Vogelbach had a solo homer and Mallex Smith added a two-run triple off Emilio Pagan (3-2) because the Mariners went up 6-5 within the prime of the ninth.

Tampa Bay entered the sport a proportion level behind Oakland for the second AL wild card. The Athletics have been at dwelling later Wednesday in opposition to the New York Yankees.

Brosseau had a run-scoring single within the 13th inning of a 1-Zero win over Detroit Saturday, whereas Choi knocked in a pair with a ninth-inning single throughout a 5-Four victory Sunday over the Tigers.

Tim Lopes had two RBIs for the Mariners, who head dwelling after a 6-Three street journey.

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”We virtually pulled off a sweep right here, actually shut,” Seattle supervisor Scott Servais stated.

Kiermaier put the Rays forward 4-Three on a two-run single within the fourth and added a sixth-inning, run-scoring groundout.

Seattle took a 3-2 benefit within the fourth on Kyle Seager’s RBI grounder and Lopes’ two-run single. Rays proper fielder Guillermo Heredia prevented two extra runs from scoring with a nifty working catch within the right-field nook on Jake Fraley’s drive.

Heredia, mired in a 1-for-23 slide, made it 2-Zero on his third-inning homer off Wade LeBlanc.

”I’ve obtained to present Guillermo Heredia some love as a result of he had an enormous homer, however he made a play down the right-field line,” Kiermaier stated. ”Who is aware of what would have occurred at that time within the recreation? That modifications all the things. That was big.”

Fraley made his main league debut beginning in heart and have become the 63rd participant utilized by the Mariners this season, one away from the MLB file set by Texas in 2014.

Seager went Zero for Four and had a 14-game hitting streak finish.

Pham walked within the first, stole second and third, and scored on Travis d’Arnaud’s sacrifice fly.

Tampa Bay ace Charlie Morton was bidding for his 14th win however struggled in a five-inning, 99-pitch begin, giving up three runs, 4 hits, two walks and placing out three. The righty had struck out 29 and walked none in his three earlier outings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: OF Mitch Haniger (ruptured testicle) was the DH at Triple-A Tacoma Tuesday however might want to play a complete recreation defensively earlier than returning.

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Rays: RHP Yonny Chirinos (proper center finger irritation) will play catch this weekend. … RHP Tyler Glasnow (proper forearm) had his second bullpen session. … OF Avisail Garcia (proper indirect) needs to be again Saturday.

BIG MEN

The Rays bought the contract of RHP Aaron Slegers from Triple-A Durham. At 6-foot-10, he’s the tallest participant in workforce historical past and, in line with Baseball Reference, tied for the second-tallest within the majors behind 6-foot-11 Jon Rauch. ”I noticed (faculty basketball analyst) Jay Bilas on the barber store,” Slegers stated. ”I feel he double-taked. He could not consider he did not know each seven-footer within the metropolis.”

TOSSED

Rays 1B Jesus Aguilar was ejected for the primary time in his profession for arguing with dwelling plate umpire John Libka after a known as third strike within the sixth.

UP NEXT

Mariners: LHP Justus Sheffield (0-0) will likely be recalled from Double-A Arkansas to make his first main league begin Friday evening in opposition to Toronto.

Rays: LHP Ryan Yarbrough (11-3) begins Thursday evening at Baltimore in opposition to RHP Asher Wojciechowski (2-6)

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