Fraley drives in 2, Flexen solid as Mariners beat Rays 8-2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Jake Fraley had a two-run single during a five-run third, Chris Flexen went 6 2/3 solid innings, and the Seattle Mariners beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on Monday night.
Fraley, who was activated before the game after being on the COVID-19 injured list since July 18, also made a diving catch in left field on Brandon Lowe´s liner in the third. He went 2 for 4 with a walk and stole a base.
Flexen (10-5) gave up two runs and seven hits, helping the Mariners move within three games of Oakland, which currently holds the second AL wild card. The right-hander struck out six and walked two.
Seattle´s Ty France had three hits with three RBIs, and came within a triple of hitting for the cycle.
Randy Arozarena homered as Tampa Bay saw its divisional lead over Boston drop to one game. The Rays moved into first place during a four-game winning streak that included a 14-0 thrashing of the Yankees and a three-game sweep of the Red Sox.
Kyle Seager and France had RBI singles before Fraley drove in two with his base hit off Michael Wacha (2-3). The fifth run scored on second baseman Lowe´s throwing error.
Seattle Mariners' Ty France lines an RBI single off Tampa Bay Rays' Michael Wacha during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
France had a fourth-inning RBI double and a solo homer during a two-run seventh that put Seattle ahead 8-2.
The Mariners were coming off consecutive walk-off losses at Texas.
After Arozarena connected on a solo shot in the fourth, Kevin Kiermaier tripled and scored on Lowe´s fifth-inning grounder that cut the Rays' deficit to 6-2.
Wacha allowed six runs and eight hits in four innings.
TRAINER´S ROOM
Mariners: INF/OF Shed Long Jr. (right shin stress reaction) was placed on the 10-day injured list. He has had issues with the shin for nearly a year.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (right forearm tightness) is undergoing treatment and will have his status updated in the next couple days. He left his start at Triple-A Durham Sunday after one inning with left hip soreness.
MOVING DAY
Seattle claimed OF Marcus Wilson off waivers from Boston and optioned him to Triple-A Tacoma. OF Dillon Thomas was designated for assignment.
UP NEXT
Mariners LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-6) and Tampa Bay RHP Luis Patiño (2-2) are Tuesday night´s starters. Patiño, 21, is coming off a victory over the Yankees Thursday in which he went six scoreless innings.
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Seattle Mariners' Jake Fraley heads for first base after hitting a two-run single off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Michael Wacha during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Mariners' Ty France, right, and Kyle Seager celebrate after scoring on a two-run single by Jake Fraley off Tampa Bay Rays' Michael Wacha during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena celebrates his solo home run off Seattle Mariners' Chris Flexen during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Kevin Kiermaier flips his bat after striking out against Seattle Mariners pitcher Chris Flexen during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Mariners' Chris Flexen pitches to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays' Michael Wacha pitches to the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
