Julio Rodriguez hit two home runs and Cal Raleigh added his major league-leading 44th long ball of the season as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 Saturday night.
Josh Naylor added a pair of doubles and rookie right-hander Logan Evans (6-4) gave up three runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings as the Mariners won their sixth in a row and improved to 8-1 on their 10-game homestand that concludes Sunday. Andres Munoz worked the ninth for his 27th save.
The Mariners, who retired Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki’s No. 51 in a pregame ceremony in front of a capacity crowd, pulled within a half-game of the division-leading Houston Astros in the American League West and tied Boston atop the league’s wild-card standings.
Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero homered for the Rays.
Tampa Bay starter Joe Boyle (1-2) struggled with his command, giving up six runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings. The right-hander walked five and fanned five.
Lowe homered in the top of the first for the second straight night to put the Rays ahead.
The lead didn’t last long as Randy Arozarena drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning and, one out later, Rodriguez went deep to right-center, hitting the ball into the J-Rod Squad of his fans.
The Mariners extended their lead to 6-1 in the third. Cole Young walked and Arozarena singled to center before Raleigh launched an opposite-field homer into the Mariners’ bullpen in left-center, helping him regain the majors’ RBIs lead with 96. Rodriguez lined the next pitch just inside the foul pole down the left-field line.
The Rays’ Yandy Diaz led off the sixth with a walk and, one out later, Josh Lowe grounded a single to right to end Evans’ night. Caminero greeted reliever Caleb Ferguson with a three-run shot to straightaway center to make it 6-4.
The Mariners responded in the bottom of the frame as Young drew a one-out walk and took third on Arozarena’s single to center. Young scored on a wild pitch by reliever Mason Englert for the game’s final run.
–Field Level Media
