Rays 5, Mets 4
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Left fielder Grady Sizemore had a two-run homer while the Tampa Bay pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts to lead the Rays to a 5-4 win over the New York Mets on Saturday at Tropicana Field.
Rays (55-56) starter right-hander Austin Karns recovered from a slow start to earn his seventh win of the season (7-5) while the Rays relievers Xavier Cedeno, Steve Geltz, Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger did not give up a hit in four innings of relief. Boxberger earned his 28th save of the season.
Right-handed starter Noah Syndergaard (6-6) gave up four runs and threw 38 pitches in the first inning after being saddled with a three-run lead. The loss snaps the Mets' seven-game win streak.
The Mets took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first after the first four batters reached base against Rays starter Karns. Right fielder Curtis Granderson led off with a home run that cleared the 404-foot sign in center field.
The Rays regained the lead by scoring the four in their half of the first when Sizemore hit a two-run homer off Syndergaard and right fielder Kevin Kiermaier had a two-run double. Tampa Bay sent nine batters to the plate in the 38-minute inning.
The Mets tied the score in the top of the second when Granderson hit his second home run of the game off Karns.
The Rays took a 5-4 lead in the fourth when Longoria's infield single scored designated hitter John Jaso.
Syndergaard was done after four innings, giving up five runs and eight hits and striking out six.
Karns went five innings and gave up four runs and eight hits while striking out eight.
NOTES: Rays OF Desmond Jennings (knee bursitis) was scratched from a rehab assignment game for Triple-A Durham on Friday. Rays manager Kevin Cash said Jennings still working on stealing bases and sliding in game situations. ... Mets LHP Alex Torres cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Memphis. ... Mets manager Terry Collins confirmed that 3B David Wright will begin his rehab assignment on Monday. ... Rays OF Steven Souza Jr. said there's no timetable for him to return from his broken left arm and he will have X-Rays in three weeks. "I just have to wait for it to heal," Souza said. "It could be six weeks, eight weeks. ... We'll see."