Rays 8, Mariners 7

Johnny Damon hit a bases-clearing double to cap a four-run seventh inning, then blasted a game-ending home run to lead of the ninth as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for an 8-7 victory to finish off a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners on Sunday at Tropicana Field.

Damon's first big hit initially was ruled a grand slam, which would have been the seventh of his career. A video review showed the ball hit off the top of the center field fence and bounced back into play, so Damon was stopped at second.

He made sure the second one cleared the fence, giving the Rays their seventh straight home win.

The Mariners watched a three-run lead dissolve, but got right back in it on Wily Mo Pena's two-run shot in the eighth before Damon's blast sent them to a fifth consecutive loss.

The Mariners entered the game averaging 3.35 runs per game, the worst in the majors. They nearly matched that average in the first inning - scoring three runs against James Shields, who came in with the sixth-best ERA in the American League. Seattle had scored only three runs over its previous three games.

Seattle's Mike Carp extended his hitting streak to 20 games with a double in the third.

The Rays have won 10 of 12 overall.
Final1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9thRHE
Seattle MarinersMariners3101000207121
Tampa Bay RaysRays0200014018101
Season Series
Tampa BayStatsSeattle
6-4Vs4-6
.251Batting Average.219
4.8Runs / Game3.9
5Home Runs13
5Errors6