Shane Baz pitched 6 2/3 effective innings and Jonathan Aranda hit a two-run double in the fifth inning after scoring the first run in a three-run second inning as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays continued their surge with a 9-0 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday afternoon.
Baz (6-3) held the Mets to three hits during his second-longest start of the season and New York’s top four hitters of Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso were a combined 1-of-9 against him. Baz threw a career-high 106 pitches, won his third straight decision and the Rays won with him on the mound for the fifth straight time.
Baz struck out six and issued two of his four walks to Soto. Baz’s biggest strikeout occurred when he got Alonso on a foul tip with the bases loaded to end the fourth and protect a 4-0 lead.
After getting three hits in the opener on Friday, Aranda helped the Rays become the first team to sweep the Mets this season.
Aranda opened the second by drawing a walk and scored the first run when Kameron Misner grounded out.
Danny Jansen added an RBI single in the second when New York’s Griffin Canning threw 33 pitches. Misner scored on a wild pitch to the backstop and Junior Caminero scored on a grounder in the fourth when Jake Magnum beat out a double play.
The Rays knocked Canning out when Caminero walked with one out in the fifth, putting runners at second and third. Aranda followed by lining a 1-1 fastball from reliever Max Kranick down the right field line for a 6-0 lead.
Caminero capped Tampa Bay’s big day with a three-run homer in the ninth after also homering in Saturday’s 8-4 win.
The Rays won for the 18th time in 24 games, scored 24 runs in the series and drew a season-best nine walks.
Canning (6-3) allowed six runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out two and issued five of New York’s season-high nine walks.
The Mets lost three straight for the second time this season and were shutout for the fourth time this season.
–Field Level Media
