Longoria, Dickerson help Rays rally to 8-7 win over Mariners
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Surging Evan Longoria and slumping Corey Dickerson helped the Tampa Bay Rays get a nice comeback victory.
Longoria and Dickerson had three RBIs apiece and the Rays rallied from an early four-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners 8-7 on Tuesday night.
"That was an awesome win," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We haven't had too many like that."
Tampa Bay, 4-22 when trailing after six innings, has won eight of 10 overall. It matched the Rays' biggest comeback win this season, which came April 21, at Boston.
Longoria's seventh homer in his last 10 games, a three-run shot off Nick Vincent, tied it at 7 in the seventh. Mike Montgomery (2-2) entered and walked two straight before Dickerson's RBI single put Tampa Bay ahead 8-7.
"We never gave up," Dickerson said, "We kept battling."
Dickerson has just seven hits in June despite Tuesday being his second three-hit performance of the month.
Ryan Garton (1-0) got the final two outs in the seventh for his first major league win. Xavier Cedeno had a perfect eighth before Alex Colome worked the ninth to get his 19th save in as many chances.
Mariners starter Taijuan Walker left with one out in the fourth with what the team said was aggravation of his right Achilles tendon.
"It's a tendon or something in the side of his foot," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "He's got some tendinitis in there. Right now we're hopeful he's going to make his next start but we'll see how he is over the next couple of days."
After Steve Pearce's solo homer, Walker looked to be in discomfort after delivering a pitch that Dickerson hit for a triple.
"It just popped up again," said Walker, who first felt discomfort in the second inning. "Hopefully I'll get it taken care of and make my next start."
Rays starter Jake Odorizzi was ejected by plate umpire Jerry Meals in the sixth after Leonys Martin drew a two-out walk on a close pitch.
Tampa Bay right fielder Steven Souza Jr. left in the seventh with left hip soreness after making a diving attempt on Nelson Cruz's single.
"X-rays were negative," Souza said. "We'll just come in (Wednesday) and see how I feel."
Souza's replacement, Taylor Motter, made a nice catch at the wall later in the seventh on Adam Lind's bases-loaded sacrifice fly before Norichika Aoki's RBI grounder gave the Mariners a 7-4 lead.
Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer during a four-run second for the Mariners.
Dickerson, who hit a grand slam off Walker in the right-hander's only other start against Tampa Bay on May 11, had a two-run drive in the bottom of the second.
Walker allowed four runs and three hits, while Odorizzi gave up five runs and eight hits.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: Cash said there will be a meeting in the next couple days to set up a batting practice schedule for RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery). ... CF Desmond Jennings (left quadriceps tightness) was in the lineup. He went 0 for 3. ... CF Kevin Kiermaier (broken left hand) is set to start hand strengthening exercises.
SPECIAL EVENT
The Rays are dedicating their annual Pride Night to the victims of Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando. Open seats for Friday night's game against San Francisco will be available for $5 with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the Pulse Victims Fund.
LEADING OFF
Martin, who returned Friday from a strained left hamstring, hit leadoff and had a two-run double in the second. "He looks like he's got his legs back under him," Servais said. "Put him at the top of the lineup and go from there. He was certainly kind of headed that way before the injury." Aoki has batted leadoff 50 times this season.
UP NEXT
Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (2-7) will face Seattle on Wednesday night on nine days' rest.
Mariners: Former Tampa Bay RHP Nathan Karns (5-2) starts for Seattle.