SEATTLE -- Starter or not, the Rays continue to find ways to win.
The American League East-leading Rays relied on a plethora of arms out of the bullpen to scrap out a 3-2 win over the Mariners on Saturday night to become the first AL team to reach 70 wins and spoil Seattle’s 50th anniversary celebratory night.
Griffin Jax was unexpectedly pulled just hours before first pitch with right elbow discomfort, so the Rays deployed a bullpen day with Casey Legumina getting the official nod. Tampa Bay used seven arms out of the bullpen and yielded just two solo shots from Josh Naylor.
It wasn’t long ago the Rays had to deploy a good chunk of their 'pen after Freddy Paralta’s shaky first start as a Ray on Wednesday. Acquired from the Mets at the Trade Deadline, Paralta lasted only 3 2/3 innings after yielding seven runs on nine hits and was in line for the loss.
But the arms of Cam Booser, Legumina, Steven Matz, Kevin Kelly, Garrett Cleavinger and Bryan Baker held the line for a 9-7 win over the Rockies.
In Seattle, they stole the show once again, proving the versatility and depth in the bullpen. The arms of Legumina, Booser, Matz, Cleavinger, Tyler Wells, Kevin Kelly and Baker limited the Mariners to one hit.
Baker, who gave up his first run since June 24 after yielding a solo shot to Julio Rodríguez in Friday's 2-1 win, closed the ninth for his AL-leading 34th save.
Richie Palacios had two hits, including a two-out, two-run single in the sixth to put the Rays up 3-1.
Victor Mesa Jr. tied the game 1-1 with a 412-foot homer into right field in the fourth.