Mets 4, Rays 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Wilmer Flores hit an RBI single in the top of the ninth to help the New York Mets rally for a 4-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Friday.
Mets reliever Tyler Clippard (2-3) gave up a solo home run to third baseman Evan Longoria to give the Rays a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Clippard got the win.
Jeurys Familia earned his 30th save as the Mets improved to 59-50.
Rays closer Brad Boxberger fell to 4-8 and had his third blown save of the season.
After Longoria's 13th homer of the season put the Rays ahead, the Mets rallied in the ninth off Boxberger. First baseman Lucas Duda reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch with no outs. After Boxberger retired third baseman Juan Uribe on a pop fly, left fielder Michael Conforto doubled to left to drive in Duda and tie the game at 3-3.
Flores, the Mets' shortstop, singled with runners on first and third, sending Conforto across the plate for the go-ahead run.
Rays (54-56) starter Jake Odorizzi took a shutout into the top of the seventh inning when Uribe hit a solo home run to deep left to tie the game at 1-1.
The Rays answered back in the bottom of the seventh when first baseman James Loney hit a solo homer to right off Mets starter Jacob deGrom to take a 2-1 lead. But the Mets answered in the bottom of the eighth when designated hitter Daniel Murphy hit a solo shot to right field off Jake McGee to tie the game at 2-2.
Left fielder Grady Sizemore gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning with a line-drive homer to right field off deGrom.
Odorizzi cruised through the early innings and worked his way out of jam in the third when he struck out Murphy with runners on second and third.
DeGrom hit Rays catcher Curt Casali with a pitch on the forearm in the bottom of the third, but home-plate umpire Tim Timmons ruled that Casali made no attempt to avoid the pitch and ordered him back in the box. Casali flied out to end the inning.
NOTES: Recently acquired OF Daniel Nava started in right field for the Rays and batted seventh. He batted .152 in 29 games with the Red Sox this season. He played with Rays manager Kevin Cash in Boston during the 2010 season. "He called me a couple days ago and we talked," Nava said. "I think these guys are looking forward to making a strong push and hopefully I can be part of that in some way." ... Mets manager Terry Collins said OF Michael Cuddyer could return as soon as Saturday. Cuddyer was expected to play a rehab game at Class A Port St. Lucie on Friday. ...Rays LHP Drew Smyly gave up four runs and six hits on Thursday for Triple-A Durham in his third rehab start. He struck out five and walked two in 4 1/3 innings and 74 pitches.