ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The free-fall is over for the Tampa Bay Rays. ADVERTISING ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The free-fall is over for the Tampa Bay Rays. Erik Bedard struck out eight in six innings and the Rays stopped a
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The free-fall is over for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Erik Bedard struck out eight in six innings and the Rays stopped a 10-game losing streak by beating the Seattle Mariners 4-0 Friday night.
The skid tied Boston for the longest in the majors this season. The Red Sox dropped 10 straight from May 15-25, with Tampa Bay handing them the last three losses in the streak. This was the Rays’ first victory since then.
“The music is back on in the clubhouse after the game,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “It’s good to hear the music. It’s a good first game to start hopefully getting us back in the right direction.”
Bedard (3-4) scattered four hits and walked one in ending a three-start losing streak. Jake McGee, Joel Peralta and Grant Balfour, who gave up a ninth-inning single, all went one inning to complete a five-hitter.
“It’s way more fun winning,” Bedard said. “We celebrated, and hopefully we do that tomorrow, too.”
After Jose Molina got his first RBI this season on a fourth-inning sacrifice fly, Tampa Bay went ahead 3-0 in the fifth on an RBI bunt single by Desmond Jennings and Yunel Escobar’s run-scoring single off Chris Young (5-3).
Young gave up three runs, seven hits and five walks over five innings for the Mariners, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.
“This is one of those days we didn’t play very well on either side of the baseball and those things happen,” manager Lloyd McClendon said.
The Rays loaded the bases with two outs in the second, but failed score when Molina popped out to shortstop Brad Miller. Dating to last season, it was Molina’s 100th consecutive at-bat, including 87 this year, without an RBI.
Kevin Kiermaier doubled and went to third on a wild pitch in the fourth before Molina ended a stretch of 19-scoreless innings by Seattle pitchers with his sac fly.
“I play for the team,” Molina said. “I don’t play for myself. To help the team to get that run in, and get the win, I’m happy with it.”
Bedard worked out of a second-and-third, no-out jam in the third by striking out Miller, James Jones and Michael Saunders.
Saunders left after three innings due to a sore right shoulder.
“He hurt it on deck swinging,” McClendon said. “Hopefully he’ll be OK in a day or two.”
TIGERS 6, RED SOX 2
DETROIT — Ian Kinsler and Torii Hunter hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning and Victor Martinez cleared the fences in the eighth, helping the Tigers beat the Red Sox to end a season-high five-game skid.
Drew Smyly (3-4) allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked only one.
YANKEES 4, ROYALS 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chase Whitley pitched seven innings for his first career win, Brian McCann drove in three runs with a timely double and the Yankees beat the Royals.
Brian Roberts drove in a run for the Yankees, who finally gave their young right-hander some support. Whitley (1-0) had allowed five earned runs in his first four starts, and left two of them with the lead, only for his team to saddle him with a series of no-decisions.
ATHLETICS 4, ORIOLES 3, 11 INNINGS
BALTIMORE — Pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt singled in the tiebreaking run in the 11th inning, and the Athletics got home runs from Josh Donaldson and Derek Norris in a victory over Orioles.
Chris Davis and Manny Machado homered for the Orioles.
RANGERS 6, INDIANS 4
ARLINGTON, Texas — Michael Choice hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning after ace Yu Darvish blew a four-run lead and the Rangers snapped the Cleveland’s six-game winning streak.
ASTROS 5, TWINS 4
MINNEAPOLIS — Dallas Keuchel shut out Minnesota for six innings, George Springer hit his 11th home run and the Astros held on to beat the Twins.
ANGELS 8, WHITE SOX 4
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Kole Calhoun homered and drove in three runs, Albert Pujols also went deep and Los Angeles beat Chicago behind Jered Weaver.
Weaver (7-4) won for the sixth time in eight starts, allowing two runs, five hits and four walks in six innings. His teammates staked him to a 7-1 lead through four.
The right-hander struck out nine and improved to 8-2 with a 1.70 ERA in 11 starts against the White Sox.
Pujols hit his 15th homer of the season and the 507th of his career.
CINCINNATI — Cole Hamels pitched into the eighth inning as he stayed unbeaten against Cincinnati, and Jimmy Rollins moved closer to the Phillies’ hit record with a solo homer.
Philadelphia ended its longest losing streak of the season at six games. Cincinnati dropped its third straight.
DODGERS 7, ROCKIES 2
DENVER — Dee Gordon tripled twice among his three hits and drove in three runs as Los Angeles handed Colorado its eighth straight defeat.
Hanley Ramirez had two hits and stole two bases, and Justin Turner also had two of Los Angeles’ 12 hits.
The Dodgers had lost six of eight but got healthy against the struggling Rockies. Hyun-Jin Ryu cruised through the first five innings before Drew Stubbs hit a solo homer with one out in the sixth.
Ryu (7-2) allowed two runs and eight hits over six innings.
Eddie Butler (0-1) allowed six runs and 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings in his major league debut.
NATIONALS 6, PADRES 0
SAN DIEGO — Tanner Roark pitched three-hit ball for eight innings and struck out a career-high 11, and Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer to lead Washington over floundering San Diego.
The Nationals won their fourth straight and for the sixth time in seven games.
GIANTS 4, METS 2
SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and San Francisco won for the eighth time in 10 games by beating New York.
The big shot off Carlos Torres (2-3) capped a three-hit day for Posey, who entered with only four hits in his past 42 at-bats at home.
Angel Pagan started the rally with a leadoff walk. The Giants (40-21) became the first team in the majors to reach 40 wins.
Daniel Murphy hit a two-run homer for the Mets, who lost their fourth straight. The bullpen has taken all four of the losses and has a major league-worst 15 on the season.
Jeremy Affeldt (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth on his 35th birthday. Sergio Romo got three outs for his 19th save in 21 chances.
Matt Cain allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings in his first start back from a stint on the disabled list for a strained right hamstring.
CUBS 5, MARLINS 3, 13 INNINGS
CHICAGO — Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the 13th inning to give Chicago a victory over Miami.
Rizzo also had a two-run double in the eighth as the Cubs earned their season-high fourth consecutive victory. Jason Hammel pitched seven scoreless innings and Chris Coghlan had an RBI double in his first game against his former team.
Junior Lake hit a leadoff single against Kevin Slowey (1-1) before Rizzo connected for his 12th homer.
Carlos Villanueva (2-5) pitched two perfect innings as Chicago got its first four-game winning streak since last July 6-9.
PIRATES 15, BREWERS 5
PITTSBURGH — Russell Martin had three hits, including a three-run double during an eight-run sixth inning, and Pittsburgh rolled to a victory over Milwaukee, handing nemesis Kyle Lohse his first loss since April 1.
BRAVES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 2
PHOENIX — Craig Kimbrel got the final four outs to break the Atlanta record for career saves in the Braves’ victory over Arizona.
INTERLEAGUE
BLUE JAYS 3, CARDINALS 1
TORONTO — Jose Bautista and Brett Lawrie each homered, rookie Marcus Stroman won his second straight start and the Blue Jays beat the Cardinals for their sixth straight victory.
The Cardinals turned their first triple play in nine years but still lost for the eighth time in 10 games. They dropped their fifth straight meeting with Toronto.
