The Tampa Bay Rays split the first two games of their series in Seattle against the Mariners. The Mariners won on a walk off homer on Thursday 2-1 and the Rays came back with a win on Friday 5-3. The Rays remain in first place in the American League Central with a record of 69-46.
Andy Sonnanstine started on Thursday night and was terrific. Sonnanstine went seven innings and gave up only one earned run. He struck out four and walked none as he got a no decision. Dan Wheeler came on in the bottom of the ninth and gave up a walk off homer to Raul Ibanez to give the Mariners the 2-1 lead. The Rays got their only run in the fourth inning on a wild pitch that plated Carl Crawford.
James Shields got the start on Friday night and picked up his tenth win of the season. Shields threw 6.2 innings and gave up three earned runs. Shields struck out five batters and walked no one. Troy Percival threw a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 25th save of the season. The Rays took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Carlos Pena home run. Pena, BJ Upton, and Akinori Iwamura each had two hits to help lead the Rays offense.
The Rays and Mariners will go at it again on Saturday night in Seattle. Matt Garza is set to make the start for Tampa Bay. Game time is 10:05pm.
