ST. PETERSBURG -- Jonathan Aranda looped a walk-off single to right field to drive in Chandler Simpson in the 10th inning, leading the Rays to a 2-1 win over the Giants on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
The Rays sealed their fourth sweep of the season with their ninth win in their past 10 games. Since a 5-7 start, they’ve won 16 of their past 21 to improve their overall record to 21-12, second best in the American League.
Held to just one run in the first two games of the series combined, the Giants struck quickly to get on the board in Sunday’s series finale. Rafael Devers hit a one-out double to left in the first inning, then Casey Schmitt drove in Devers with a single to center off Steven Matz.
Matz was outstanding the rest of the afternoon, and that score held until the eighth inning. The veteran left-hander permitted only two more hits and two walks as he completed six innings on 89 pitches (60 strikes).
It was the Rays’ 10th straight game allowing three runs or fewer, tied for the second-longest such streak in franchise history with a 10-game run from July 24-Aug. 4, 2016. The longest was a 12-gamer from Aug. 4-16, 2014.
The Rays didn’t have many scoring opportunities against Giants starter Tyler Mahle, who held them to four hits and one walk while striking out five over 5 1/3 innings. But they were given a chance to pull ahead in the sixth, as they capitalized on an error by shortstop Willy Adames and a walk by reliever Matt Gage to load the bases with two outs.
But with Yandy Díaz apparently unavailable to pinch-hit against the lefty Gage, Cedric Mullins -- batting just .129 with a .419 OPS on the year -- flied out to right field to end the threat.
The Rays tied the game in the eighth. Junior Caminero worked a leadoff walk and hustled to third on a single by Aranda, putting him in position to score on a sacrifice bunt by cleanup-hitting Ryan Vilade. Caminero slid home, pounded his chest and screamed as the momentum seemingly shifted in Tampa Bay’s favor.
Another sacrifice bunt by Jonny DeLuca put two runners in scoring position for Ben Williamson, who hit a low liner to the left side of the infield. Third baseman Matt Chapman snared it and stepped on third, turning an inning-ending double play, although there was some confusion when he also attempted a throw home that bounced off Aranda.
Bryan Baker pitched a clean ninth, and Ian Seymour didn’t even let the automatic runner advance in the 10th. That set up Aranda’s second walk-off of the season and the third of his career.