Randy Arozarena capped a three-run ninth inning with a walk-off RBI single to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 6-5 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Josh Lowe started off the ninth with a single off closer Emmanuel Clase. Yandy Diaz, who had three hits, collected a one-out RBI double, and Brandon Lowe tied the game on a two-out infield single.
Brandon Lowe stole second before Arozarena lined the decisive hit off Clase (1-7), giving the Rays their second straight walk-off win in the series. Tampa Bay goes for the sweep on Sunday.
Cleveland held a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning after Kole Calhoun and Cam Gallagher each had RBI singles in the inning.
But Luke Raley, who had a home run in the fourth inning, picked up an RBI double in the home half of the eighth.
Calhoun, Andres Gimenez, Ramon Laureano, Oscar Gonzalez, Steven Kwan and Gabriel Arias each had two hits for Cleveland.
Josh Fleming (2-0) was credited with the win, giving up two runs in three innings.
Guardians starter Gavin Williams struck out 10 and allowed one run in five innings. For the second straight start, the right-hander reached double digits in strikeouts. He fanned 12 across seven shutout innings on Monday while taking a no-decision against the Toronto Blue Jays.
With Tyler Glasnow (back spasms) needing a couple of more days to recover, the Rays treated Saturday as a bullpen game. Shawn Armstrong made the start and tossed two shutout innings, striking out three.
After 43 pitches, Armstrong was replaced by Erasmo Ramirez in the third inning.
The Guardians struck quickly for a run off Ramirez. Kwan tripled and scored on Brayan Rocchio’s sacrifice fly.
In the fourth inning, Raley pulled Tampa Bay even at 1 on a two-out home run to center field. It was Raley’s 16th homer of the season.
Cleveland reclaimed the lead with two runs in the sixth inning on Gonzalez’s sacrifice fly and Myles Straw’s RBI fielder’s choice.
–Field Level Media
