Felix dominates Rays for ninth victory
SEATTLE -- Austin Jackson's solo home run off Steve Geltz in the seventh inning proved to be the difference in a 2-1 Mariners win over the Rays Saturday night at Safeco Field.
Jackson, who has had at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games, jumped on a 3-2 fastball and planted the ball into the left-field stands for his third home run of the season and a 2-1 Mariners lead.
"I was just trying to locate a pitch, you know it just came back across the plate and a good hitter put a good swing on it," Geltz said.
Willie Bloomquist singled off Alex Colome with no outs in the fourth to drive home Seth Smith to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead, while snapping a string of 16 consecutive scoreless innings by the Mariners offense.
Felix Hernandez had accrued 21 consecutive scoreless innings against the Rays -- over his last three starts -- when Kevin Kiermaier tripled with one out in the sixth. Kiermaier then scored on a wild pitch to snap Hernandez's streak and tie the score at 1.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Smith comes up big The ninth inning hasn't been kind this season to closer Fernando Rodney (6.94 ERA). On Saturday, reliever Carson Smith worked a 1-2-3 ninth, in place of Rodney, to pick up his first career save and help the Mariners snap a season-high, seven-game losing streak. More >
Video: TB@SEA: Smith locks down his first career save
Colome escapes: The Mariners had already scored a run in the fourth to take a 1-0 lead and the bases remained loaded with no outs. In short, Colome had pitched himself into a mess. But the Rays starter managed to regroup, retiring Jackson on a foul pop to third before getting Robinson Cano to hit into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play. More >
Video: TB@SEA: Colome induces bases-loaded DP to escape jam
Kiermaier getting busy: Kiermaier put his athleticism on display from the beginning Saturday night. He led off the game by drawing a walk from Hernandez, then stole two bases before getting stranded at third. In the sixth, he tripled off Hernandez and scored on a wild pitch to account for the Rays' only run.
Video: TB@SEA: Kiermaier scores on wild pitch, ties game
Hernandez wins again: When Hernandez got Jake Elmore to line out to end the top of the seventh, it kept him eligible to pick up his ninth win if the Mariners scored in the bottom of the frame. Jackson delivered and the bullpen worked two scoreless innings to help Hernandez move to 9-2.
Video: TB@SEA: Jackson's solo shot gives Mariners the lead
QUOTABLE
"We know coming in, we all know [Hernandez] is tough. Find a way to grind it and I think we did." -- Rays manager Kevin Cash on facing Hernandez
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Kiermaier became the first player in the Majors this season to record a triple and two stolen bases in the same game.
• Mariners first baseman Logan Morrison has been on a tear of late. He went 3-for-4 Saturday and extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying a career-high, to lift his season batting average to .256.
REPLAY REVIEW
Kiermaier attempted to steal third base with one out in the first inning and was called out. Cash challenged the play and the call was overturned.
Video: TB@SEA: Kiermaier steals third after Rays challenge
WHAT'S NEXT
Rays: Chris Archer will start Sunday, hoping to build on what has been a special season to date. The right-hander finished his last start with a 2.01 ERA and 97 strikeouts, a combination unmatched through June 2 since Boston's Pedro Martinez in 2001. In his last start he became the first Ray ever to strike out 12 or more in back-to-back games. First pitch from Safeco Field is 4:10 p.m. ET.
Mariners: Rookie left-hander Mike Montgomery (0-0) will make his second big league start after he allowed one run over six innings before the bullpen surrendered the lead late in the Mariners' 5-3, 11-inning loss to the Yankees. Montgomery, 25, was traded by the Rays to Seattle on March 31 in exchange for right-hander Erasmo Ramirez.
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