[Art Deco]

Game 1: The Rays took a quick 4-0 lead then held on for a 4-3 win over the Mariners at Publix Park to open their 3-game set. David Morales had a 2-run double in the 3rd and Paul Mayes launched a 2-run homer (#4) in the 4th to give them that lead, which Seattle slowly eroded. Jorge Barraza (7-3) turned in another good start at 5.1 5 3 2 0 5 and although the bullpen did allow the third run against him to score they held the rest of the way. Mario Berumen came on for the 9th as usual but departed with two out thanks to a dead arm which will sideline him a week, so the newest Ray Devin Tadlock came on to get the save in his first appearance with the club, his 22nd overall this season.

Game 2: Seattle overcame a 4-3 Rays lead in the middle innings to beat them 7-4 in the second game. Jesus Avalos had a huge game with a solo homer in the 1st and a 3-run shot in the 3rd (#23 & 24) to erase an early Mariners lead but the good times were short-lived as Seattle tied it in the 5th off Elijah Whitaker and then went ahead in the 6th, dropping the rookie to 6-6 after a 5 7 5 5 3 3 outing. The pen gave up a couple of more runs and that was that.

Game 3: The Rays bounced back to take the rubber game 5-2 thanks to a typically outstanding game from Dave Rose. The star right-hander might be having his best year yet, now on pace for 7.2 WAR which would easily eclipse last season's career high of 5.3 thanks to a 7 4 0 0 2 5 performance which improved him to 10-4. Dave Flores gave up a 2-run homer in the 8th which created a save situation in the 9th for Devin Tadlock, who got his 2nd as a Ray and 23rd in total. Jose Machado was 2-3 with a double and an RBI as five different Rays plated a run.

Team record: 60-37. Tampa Bay maintained its 2 1/2-game lead on Baltimore and will take a day off to fly across the country before playing 3 in Anaheim against a 58-39 Angels squad currently tied with Houston for 1st in the AL West.