The Tampa Bay Rays (15-18) defeated the New York Mets (16-16) 10-8 on Friday night at Tropicana Field.
Brett Baty hit a three-run homer for the Mets in the second inning, but the lead would not last. Tampa Bay answered with three runs in the bottom of the second before erupting for five runs in the fourth, which included a solo home run from Randy Arozarena, as they built a 9-3 lead.
Though the Mets got four in the fifth to pull within 9-7, the Rays answered with a run in the sixth that would prove to be huge. Baty hit his second homer in the ninth inning off Jason Adam, but he held on to complete a 10-8 win and earn his second save of the season.
Shawn Armstrong (1-1, 3.45) was the winning pitcher in this game coming out of the bullpen, finishing out the fifth inning before working the sixth without allowing a run. Aaron Civale was pulled with two outs in the fifth, and his line finished with seven earned runs on six hits while striking out five and walking one and four and two-thirds innings of work.
The Rays now look to win the three game series against the Mets on Saturday night. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 7:15 PM - Chris Adams-Wall begins pregame coverage at 6:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES