The Tampa Bay Rays (87-58) defeated the Atlanta Braves (85-61) 7-2 on Wednesday night in Atlanta. For the Rays, it was their second straight win in the interleague series.
The Rays got three in the second and three in the fourth to take a commanding 6-0 lead. The Braves got single runs back in the fourth and sixth to pull within 6-2, but Tampa Bay scored again in the seventh to make it a 7-2 final score. Victor Mesa Jr. went 2-for-3 with a home run, a RBI and two runs scored – Chandler Simpson also had two hits and two runs scored for Tampa Bay.
Griffin Jax (7-10, 3.99) got the start and the win in this one. He pitched five innings in which he allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out two and walking one.
The Rays will now try to sweep the Braves when they meet in the series finale on Thursday afternoon. Nick Martinez (14-4, 3.04) is scheduled to start the finale for the Rays and face Martin Perez (8-9, 3.25) for Atlanta. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 12:15 PM – pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting Inside Pitch at 11:00 AM on 95.7 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES