Gillespie single lifts Marlins past Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Marlins got a go-ahead single from Cole Gillespie in the eighth inning and a strong night from the bullpen, edging the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.
Miami (24-22) got 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, while Tampa Bay (21-23) saw rookie Tyler Sturdevant, a day removed from his major-league debut, give up three hits and the go-ahead run in 0.1 innings. Miami has taken two of three games this week in the home-and-home series, which wraps up Thursday.
The Marlins took the lead in the eighth on an RBI single by Gillespie, who had been hitless in 12 games this season before Wednesday's game. Gillespie's single scored J.T. Realmuto, who had led off the inning with a single off Sturdevant. Miami got another single and walk to load the bases, but Dana Eveland got Miami's Justin Bour to strike out to end the inning with a one-run deficit.
Miami's David Phelps struck out the side in the eighth, and closer A.J. Ramos pitched the ninth for his 15th save, striking out Brandon Guyer to end the game with the tying run on base. Kyle Barraclough (3-1) came into the game in the seventh with the go-ahead run in scoring position, getting a break when Brandon Guyer was thrown out trying to advance to third on a passed ball and striking out Mikie Mahtook to end the inning.
The Rays had tied the game in the sixth on a two-run home run by red-hot Logan Morrison, who drove in all three of Tampa Bay's runs. That home run ended the night for Marlins starter Justin Nicolino, who gave up eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Nicolino kept the Rays in check, holding them to one run on six hits in the first five innings. Florida got three runs in the top of the third off starter Matt Andriese, who led Rays starting pitchers in wins (three) and ERA (2.11) despite only three starts before Wednesday.
Bour, getting rare work as a designated hitter, started the scoring with an RBI ground-rule double to tie the game at 1-1. Marcell Ozuna followed with a two-run single for a 3-1 lead, though Andriese was able to stop the damage there, giving up eight hits but only the three runs in the first six innings.
Tampa Bay had taken the lead in the second on an RBI single by Logan Morrison, who has been the Rays' hottest hitter after having no RBIs in his first 80 at-bats of the season. Morrison came into the game hitting .340 in May, this after hitting just .100 in April.
Tampa Bay had opportunities but kept losing their baserunners -- double plays in the first and fourth innings, a runner caught stealing in the first, their first two runners on in the third before three straight outs to end the rally.
NOTES: With an overworked bullpen in need of help, the Rays selected RHP Ryan Garton from Triple-A Durham, where the 26-year-old had a 2.38 ERA in 14 appearances. To make room on the 25-man roster, the Rays optioned INF Tim Beckham, hitting just .185, to Durham. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays designated INF Jake Goebbert for assignment. Garton is the second recent addition to the bullpen. RHP Tyler Sturdevant made his major league debut on Tuesday. ... The Marlins used a designated hitter for the first time this season, with INF Justin Bour batting third. Since 2010, the Marlins rank second in the National League in DH average -- they were at .263, behind only the Cardinals. ... Rays pitchers held their own when asked to hit at Marlins Park. Starters Matt Moore and Jake Odorizzi both had their first major league hits in the two games this week. ... Sturdevant was the third-oldest Rays player to make a major league debut at 30 years, 155 days. Only pitchers Jason Childers (2006) and Jim Morris (2000) were older.