Rangers Lose At Rays
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — First baseman James Loney’s two-run double in the eighth inning led the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-4 comeback win against the Texas Rangers on Saturday night at Tropicana Field.
Rangers left-hander Neal Cotts walked right fielder Wil Myers to lead off the inning. After a sacrifice bunt moved Myers to second, the Rangers elected to intentionally walk Rays third baseman Evan Longoria. Up came Loney, who smacked an opposite-field double off Cotts and over left fielder Shin-Soo Choo’s head to score both runners.
Rays closer Grant Balfour set down the Rangers in order in the ninth inning to secure his first save of the season.
After a dominant Opening Day start, Rays left-hander David Price gave up four runs on nine hits and struck out six. But he battled through six innings with no further damage, and Tampa Bay relievers Jake McGee and Brandon Gomes held Texas in check long enough to set up Loney’s game-winning hit.
Rangers right-hander Nick Martinez pitched well in his major league debut, allowing three
runs on four hits while striking out three over six innings. The 23-year-old had his contract officially purchased from Double-A Frisco before the game having made only five starts above Class A ball.
The Rangers quickly got to Price, as the first two batters of the game singled and designated hitter Alex Rios drove them home on a two-out double to left.
They added another run in the second on three consecutive singles, with shortstop Elvis Andrus’ base hit to left finally scoring second baseman Josh Wilson.
Texas manufactured a run in the fourth inning, with Chirinos scoring on Choo’s sacrifice fly.
The Rays, meanwhile, scored early on a pair of home runs. Fresh off signing a two-year contract extension, shortstop Yunel Escobar took Martinez deep to left field in the third inning.
With two outs and a runner on first in the fourth inning, left fielder Matt Joyce launched his first homer of the season down the right-field line, trimming the Rangers’ lead to just one run.
