Rays 3, Mariners 1
SEATTLE -- Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer pitched seven solid innings, and made a little history along the way, while teammate Mikie Mahtook homered to lead the Rays to a 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
Tampa Bay (31-27) took three of the four games in the series and has now won five of its past six.
Archer (7-4) allowed one unearned run off six hits, one of which could have easily been ruled an error. He struck out 11 without giving up a walk, marking the first time in major-league history to have 10 or more strikeouts without allowing a walk in three consecutive starts.
Mahtook, a rookie who was called up in April, recorded his second career hit with a solo shot in the seventh. Both of Mahtook's hits have been home runs.
Seattle starter Mike Montgomery, who was making his second career start and was with the Rays at spring training, struggled in the early going against his former team but eventually found a groove. Montgomery (0-1) allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings.
The Rays took a 1-0 lead on second baseman Logan Forsythe's RBI single in the first inning. Tampa Bay got a leadoff walk and two singles off Montgomery in that inning but couldn't generate another run until the seventh.
Seattle (25-32) matched the Mahtook homer with an RBI single from shortstop Brad Miller in the bottom of the seventh, cutting Tampa Bay's lead to 2-1.
After a Miller error to lead off the top of the eighth, the Rays went ahead 3-1 on an RBI sacrifice fly from pinch hitter David DeJesus.
Reliever Kevin Jepsen, who has now been used in three consecutive save situations while healthy closer Brad Boxberger sat out the entire Seattle series after blowing a save last Wednesday night, earned his fourth save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Jepsen allowed two two-out runners -- on an error and a hit -- in the ninth before Seattle shortstop Brad Miller flew out to end the game. Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, who was not in the lineup because of a .167 batting average during the homestand, was in the on---deck circle as a probably pinch hitter when Miller flew to right field.
It was a comparatively easy win for the Rays, who had played four consecutive one-run games heading into Sunday.
The Mariners ran themselves out of scoring opportunities in the fourth and sixth innings, when they got caught stealing to end threats. Seattle had seven hits and left six runners on base.
The Mariners have now scored three runs or fewer 33 times this season, the highest total of any major-league team.
Seattle first baseman Logan Morrison extended his hitting streak to a career---best 14 games with a two-out single in the ninth.
Both teams were charged with two errors in the game.
NOTES: Rays 3B Evan Longoria (wrist) was not in the lineup again Sunday. He is listed as day-to-day, and it's likely that the Monday off day will help get him back on the field in time for the Angels series. ... Mariners 2B Robinson Cano, who is hitting just .167 during the current homestand and has stranded 12 runners since Thursday night, was not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game. ... Tampa Bay still hasn't named a Thursday starter. RHP Jake Odorizzi would be the choice, if healthy, but the Rays are awaiting further word on his strained oblique muscle. Odorizzi is scheduled to meet with a doctor in Tampa Bay on Monday. ... The Rays and Mariners both have Monday off. Tampa Bay will host the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, while Seattle begins an eight-day road trip with a Tuesday game in Cleveland.