Late walk lifts Rays over Mariners
Published 1:30 am Saturday, August 10, 2019
Associated Press
SEATTLE — Pinch-hitter Ji-Man Choi drew a bases-loaded walk that snapped a ninth-inning tie and the Tampa Bay Rays ended their nine-game losing streak in Seattle, beating the Mariners 5-3 Friday night.
The Rays won for the eighth time in 10 games and remain second in the American League wild-card race.
Tampa Bay entered the game in a 1-for-23 slump with runners in scoring position, but solved the problem in the ninth by patiently waiting for Mariners reliever Anthony Bass to go wild with the score 2-all.
After giving up a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Eric Sogard, Bass (1-4) walked Kevin Kiermaier and Michael Brosseau moved over both runners with a sacrifice bunt.
The Mariners then intentionally walked Willy Adames to load the bases. Choi patiently worked the count full before earning the RBI.
Shortstop J.P. Crawford flubbed Tommy Pham’s grounder to make it 4-2 and Austin Meadows’ RBI grounder made it a three-run lead.
Oliver Drake (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth. Emilio Pagan got his 10th save, giving up Ryan Court’s home run.
Six Rays pitchers combined to strike out 15.
