The Tampa Bay Rays (46-33) defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks (41-40) 6-1 on Friday night at Tropicana Field. With the win, the Rays have now won three straight games.
Geraldo Perdomo homered in the top of the first to give the Diamondbacks an early 1-0 lead, but the Rays had an answer. Junior Caminero hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the frame to give the Rays a 3-1 lead. That would be the score until the seventh inning, when the Rays were able to add on.
Cedric Mullens hit a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning, before Yandy Diaz hit a RBI single to make it 5-1. With the RBI hit, Yandy Diaz passed BJ Upton for the 6th-most RBIs in franchise history - he now has dirven in 52 on the season. Jonathan Aranda added a RBI double that made it a 3-run seventh inning and a 6-1 Rays lead, which would prove to be the final score.
Nick Martinez (7-2, 2.66) got the win after allowing one earned run on six hits in five and two-third innings of work in which he struck out three and walked none. The bullpen pitched shutout baseball the rest of the way, between Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly, Garrett Cleavinger and Craig Kimbrel.
The Rays now meet the Diamondbacks in the middle game of the three-game series on Saturday night. Cole Sulser (1-0, 5.40) is scheduled to start for the Rays and face Jose Cabrera (0-0, 0.00) for Arizona. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 PM - Chris Adams-Wall begins pregame coverage at 3:30 PM on 95.7 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES