Rays 8, Mariners 0
Jeff Niemann struck out a career-best 11 and the Tampa Bay Rays scored all their runs in the second inning en route to an 8-0 rout of the host Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
Niemann (5-4) allowed three hits and walked three in 6 2/3 innings while winning his fourth straight decision as Seattle lost for the 18th time in its last 19 games.
Tampa Bay sent 12 batters to the plate in the second with Johnny Damon’s two-run single and Ben Zobrist’s two-run homer the big blows.
Casey Kotchman added an RBI double and Kelly Shoppach singled off the right-field fence. The other runs came on Desmond Jennings’ bases-loaded walk and Evan Longoria’s infield out.
Kotchman had three of Tampa Bay’s 10 hits.
Dustin Ackley singled in the first for Seattle’s only hit in the first six innings. Adam Kennedy and Chone Figgins singled in the seventh to chase Niemann.
Erik Bedard (4-7) lasted only 1 1/3 innings in his return from a knee injury. He was charged with five runs, and gave up three hits and four walks. Zobrist’s homer was off reliever Aaron Laffey.