Friday, 4 a.m.
For an inning, they were Murderer's Row. For an inning, the Tampa Bay Rays had all the offense you could want.
It didn't last, of course. On the other hand, it was enough.
The Rays used a four-run fourth to catapult themselves into a 4-3 win over Seattle, their third win in four games against the Mariners this year. It's a welcomed start since the Rays were 1-6 against Seattle a season ago.
This time, the Rays collected all four of their runs and four of their seven hits in the fourth inning. Seattle nibbled back, but Brooks Raley pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his second save.
Rays' starter Shane McClanahan started well, throwing four no-hit innings. But he gave up a run in the fourth and another in the fifth.
“I felt he was in control," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "He had some overpowering stuff in the first two innings. He continues to impress. He’s very good and we’re all confident he’s going to get better."
The Rays' bullpen used three relievers and gave up just one run.
Again, the hitting star was catcher Mike Zunino, who seems to have found his stroke. He hit a three-run homer off Robbie Ray in the fourth, his third home run in the last six games.
“We finally got to Robbie Ray," Cash said. "He’s super talented. Really really good. He has his way with us last year. We had enough to have a big inning and Mike knocked it out for a three-run homer."
The Rays play at Seattle again tonight at 9:40 p.m. Josh Fleming will start for the Rays against Logan Gilbert.