Lee drives in 3 runs, Mariners beat Rays 6-4 to avoid sweep
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Dae-Ho Lee drove in three runs, James Paxton went six effective innings and the Seattle Mariners avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-4 on Thursday.
Lee had an RBI single in a three-run first and drove in two with a double during the fourth.
Paxton (1-2) gave up three runs and five hits. Steve Cishek, the third Seattle reliever, pitched the ninth to get his 15th save.
Blake Snell, a 23-year-old Seattle native, was recalled from Triple-A Durham before the game and started for the Rays. Snell (0-1) allowed five runs — one earned — and eight hits over 3 1-3 innings in his first home big league start and second overall.
After Lee singled with two outs in the first, another run scored when Rays shortstop Tim Beckham misplayed Kyle Seager's grounder. A single by Chris Iannetta made it 3-0.
Ryan Garton, who replaced Snell with the bases loaded in the fourth, struck out Nelson Cruz for the second out. Lee followed with a two-run double that put Seattle up 5-2.
Seager hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth.
Brad Miller cut the Rays' deficit to 5-4 on a two-out, bases-loaded single in the eighth off Joaquin Benoit, who then struck out Steve Pearce on a 3-2 pitch.
Pearce had three hits and is hitting. 514 (18 for his 35) this month.
The Mariners had 17 baserunners though five innings, but hit into three double plays over the stretch.
Pearce had an RBI single during a two-run third. Curt Casali drove in a run on a fourth-inning grounder.
Tampa Bay went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: Manager Scott Servais said RHP Taijuan Walker (foot arch tendinitis) is still on track to make his next scheduled start Sunday at Boston. . CF Leonys Martin, who returned Friday from a strained left hamstring, was rested.
Rays: 3B Evan Longoria (left forearm soreness) didn't play. . RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) will throw 15 fastballs Saturday in his first batting practice session. . RHP Ryan Webb (right pectoral strain) might return next week.
ROSTER TIME
RF Steven Souza Jr., hurt diving for a ball Tuesday, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hip. Snell took his roster spot.
UP NEXT
Mariners: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (5-5), 0-1 with a 10.20 ERA in four starts against Boston, will go against Red Sox LHP Roenis Elias (0-0) Friday night.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (4-7) will face San Francisco RHP Jeff Samardzija (7-4) before a crowd that may be around 40,000 at Tropicana Field Friday night on Pride Night, which has been dedicated to the victims of Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando. The Rays put all open seats on sale Tuesday for $5 with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Pulse Victims Fund. Seats normally covered in the upper deck will be used.