Tampa Bay Rays Fall on Road to Mariners

The Tampa Bay Rays (15-16), after sweeping their first series of the season versus the Angels on May 8, have now followed that series sweep with a series loss. After losing the first game of the series against the Seattle Mariners (20-13) on Monday, the Rays fell 6-4 Tuesday night to lose the series.

The Mariners put the Rays in a hole early in the game. Seattle right fielder Franklin Gutierrez hit a two-run homer, and then Robinson Cano added another run to give the Mariners a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

Tampa Bay first baseman Steve Pearce hit a home run in the top of the second and another in the top of the fourth to bring the score to 3-2, but the Rays’ comeback was stifled after Seattle first baseman Dae-Ho Lee hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth.

The Rays managed to score two more runs (including a home run from Steven Souza, Jr.), but could not overcome the deficit, and fell 6-4.

Despite the loss, Rays manager Kevin Cash says his team battled.

The Mariners will go for the sweep against the Rays on Wednesday at 3:40 p.m.