The Tampa Bay Rays continued their winning ways as they won for the seventh time in their last nine games. The Rays won on Wednesday over the Marlins 15-3 and won on Thursday afternoon by a score of 6-1. The Rays are now 47-31 this season.
James Shields got the start on Wednesday and received plenty of run support. Shields last seven innings and gave up only one run to pick up his fifth win of the season. Shields didn’t walk a single batter and struck out five. Jason Hammel and Gary Glover each gave up a run in relief. The Rays offense got a most of their damage done in fifth inning when they scored ten runs. Every single player in the lineup scored in the inning. Carl Crawford led the way with two home runs and five RBI. Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist also homered for the Rays.
The offense was the story on Wednesday but Matt Garza was the story for the Rays on Thursday. Garza took a no-hitter into the seventh inning but lost it on a Hanley Ramirez solo homer. That would the only run and the only hit that Garza would allow. He struck out ten batters and walked only one as he threw a complete game to pick up his sixth win of the year. Evan Longoria homered for the second straight game and how has 14 of them on the season. Back up catcher Shawn Riggans had a double and three RBI for the Rays.
Now that they have completed their sweep of the Marlins the Rays will head to Pittsburgh to start a three game series with the Pirates on Friday. Edwin Jackson will start the opener. Game time is 7:05pm.
