*Photo from ESPN Seattle*
Coming off a rough weekend where they were walked off twice, the Seattle Mariners came in looking to make a statement. Jake Fraley drove in two runs, Ty France had a big night, and the Mariners easily defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on Monday night.
With the win, the Mariners improved to 5-0 on the season against Tampa Bay, who was coming into this matchup red hot. A big reason for that was the contributions of Fraley, who was activated from the Covid-19 IL prior to the game, and France, who fell a triple short of the cycle, while driving in 3 runs.
Mariners manager Scott Servais said "We’ve been on the right side of five games so far. I hope we can figure it out a couple more times, then get out of Dodge. We’ve played well against them. I can’t really explain it."
The Mariners got things started with a 5 run 3rd inning. France and Kyle Seager each contributed RBI singles, Fraley added a two run single of his own, and new Mariner Abraham Toro scored on a fielders choice, and it was quickly 5-0 Seattle. In the 4th, France made it 6-0 on an RBI double to left field. In the 7th, France hit a solo homer to left field, and Jarred Kelenic added an RBI single, giving Seattle 8 runs.
For the Rays, Randy Arozarena got them going in the 4th, hitting a solo homer to center field, cutting the deficit to 6-1 in favor of the Mariners. In the 5th, Kevin Kiermaier scored on a ground out to make it a 6-2 game, but that was all the Rays could muster.
Servais said "We hit six or seven balls on the screws against the Rangers, but they all got caught. Tonight, the balls dropped. It starts with the guy on the bump. You put starting pitching together with a lot of really good at-bats, and it’s a good way to start this series."
Chris Flexen picked up the win for Seattle, confusing Rays hitting all night, allowing two runs on 7 hits and two walks, with 6 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, improving to 10-5 on the season. After Flexen departed, Joe Smith provided 1 1/3 shutout innings, with two strikeouts, and Keynan Middleton pitched the 9th to secure the win.
It was Michael Wacha who took the start and got the loss for the Rays, falling to 2-3 on the season. Wacha allowed 6 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks, getting just 3 strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. Chris Mazza then provided 3 innings of relief, giving up the other two runs. DJ Johnson and Louis Head then threw shutout innings.
Kiermaier said of the Rays record against Seattle that "I don’t know what it is about the Mariners, but they’ve just given us a lot of trouble over the years. They’ve got really good players over there, and they had one big inning and it’s tough to come back."
The Rays and Mariners continue their series tonight, with Luis Patino starting for the Rays, and Yusei Kikuchi getting the start for Seattle.
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