Seattle Mariners pitchers held Tampa Bay Rays bats to just five hits, while their own offense pounded out 11 hits against Michael Wacha, taking a second straight game in the four-game series by a 5-1 score Friday night at T-Mobile Park.
Tampa Bay’s only run came in the top of the first inning against mariners starter Yusei Kikuchi. Manuel Margot led off the game with a base hit, and moved to third two batters later on a single by Austin Meadows. Yandy Diaz grounded into a fielder’s choice, erasing Meadows, but beat out the throw to first, allowing Margot to come home and make it 1-0.
Seattle wasted no time in countering against Wacha, as they would tie the game just three batters into the bottom of the first, as J.P. Crawford doubled to lead off the frame and scored on a base hit by Kyle Seager, who moved up a base on an error by Margot.
Ty France moved Seager to third base, and Jake Bauers broke the tie with a base hit. Dylan Moore flew out for the second out of the inning, but Shed Long Jr. and Luis Torrens each drove in a run with singles to push the Mariners lead to 4-1.
Seattle added one more run on Wacha in the third, loading the bases on a double by France, a single by Bauers, and a walk by Long. Torrens then reached on an infield single, bringing in France for a 5-1 lead.
Wacha would exit two outs into the fourth having allowed 11 hits, including nine singles, walking one and striking out a pair.
Kikuchi allowed just two hits after the first inning, working through the seventh. Kendall Graveman worked a perfect eighth, and Drew Steckenrider put up a zero in the ninth to finish the game.
The Rays maintain their one half-game lead over the Boston Red Sox, who lost on the road in Kansas City.
Tampa Bay will look to end their now four-game losing streak Saturday night, when Josh Fleming (6-4, 3.20 ERA) takes on Logan Gilbert (2-2, 4.13 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 10:10.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
