TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Shane Baz pitched six shutout innings to end his eight-game losing streak and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 10-2 on Monday night for their fourth consecutive victory.
Nick Fortes hit an early three-run homer and scored three times. Tristan Gray also went deep and Yandy Díaz had a two-run double for the Rays (68-69), who moved within 4 1/2 games of the Mariners for the last American League playoff spot.
Seattle holds a two-game lead over Texas for the third and final
wild card.
Junior Caminero went 3 for 4 with two RBI singles. Jake Mangum also had three of Tampa Bay's 13 hits at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Mariners starter Luis Castillo (8-8) allowed five runs and six hits in four innings.
Baz (9-11) scattered five hits and two walks while striking out six to earn his first win since June 26.
Fortes’ flyball over the right-center wall in the second inning had Dominic Canzone reaching to try and bring it back. Canzone protested he lost his glove in the process, but after a replay review, Fortes had a three-run homer and the Rays had a lead they did not relinquish.
Pinch-hitter Leo Rivas connected for a two-run shot in the Seattle ninth, his first major league homer.
Baz found himself in a jam in the sixth after Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Baz coaxed a flyout from Julio Rodríguez, a harmless grounder to first from Josh Naylor and got out of the inning by striking out Eugenio Suárez.
Baz's losing streak was the longest of his career.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen (10-5, 2.64 ERA) faces RHP Bryan Woo (12-7, 2.95) when the series continues Tuesday night.
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