The Tampa Bay Rays topped the Miami Marlins 8-6 in a game that saw six lead changes. The seesaw battle began with the Marlins tallying the game’s first run in the second inning. Aided by a Willy Adames error, Miami loaded the bases then scored on a hit-by-pitch issued by bulk-man Jalen Beeks.
The Rays answered in the bottom half of the frame with a two-run homer run by recent trade acquisition Eric Sogard (11), putting them in front 2-1. It was a lead that would prove to be shortlived as the Marlins scored three more runs in the 3rd before Sogard (12) answered with his second home run of the game in the bottom half. This time, it was a three-run shot. The former Toronto Blue Jay would finish the game 2-for-3 with two HR and five RBI.
The Rays maintained a 5-4 lead until the seventh. A lead-off walk by César Puello, then single by Miguel Rojas, off of reliever Chaz Roe got things started for the visiting Marlins.
Then, a throwing error charged to catcher Travis d’Arnaud (could have easily belonged to Adames for whiffing on the throw) allowed both runners to move into scoring position. A subsequent ground ball base-hit by Jon Berti scored Puello tying the game. A Brian Anderson (theirs not ours) sacrifice fly then gave Miami a 6-5 lead late.
As they had all day, the Rays would battle back in the bottom half of the inning. This time it was Austin Meadows (18) with a solo home run to tie the game 6-6. Meadows has now homered in three straight games.
Willy Adames (14) would redeem himself in the bottom of the 8th inning with a solo blast, putting the Rays ahead 7-6. The Rays would add an insurance run making it 8-6 before Austin Meadows was thrown out at the plate to end the inning (how does this keep happening?!).
Emilio Pagán worked around a two-out triple to get the save (9). The Rays have now won five straight games and seven of their last eight. They lead the Oakland Athletics by a game for the second wild-card spot.
Game two of this two-game series will take place Sunday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. EST. Yonny Chirinos will take the hill for the Rays with Caleb Smith going for the Marlins.
News and Notes
• The game-winning home run by Adames was a great sign for the Rays shortstop. Only 2 of his 14 home runs this season have come at Tropicana Field. Coming into today’s game, Adames had a .904 OPS on the road compared to a meek .446 mark at home.
• Since joining the Rays, Sogard is 5-for-13 with a double, two home runs, six RBI, and five runs scored.
• Today’s game marked the first of a 21-game stretch where the Rays will face opponents with a record below .500.
• The Rays have hit 16 home runs in their last seven games.
