PHOENIX — Luke Raley homered in the first inning, Wander Franco and Josh Lowe drove in two runs each in a five-run third, and the Tampa Bay Rays pounded the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-1 Thursday.
What You Need To Know
- Tampa Bay got two RBIs each from Wander Franco and Josh Lowe to beat Arizona 6-1
- The Rays have the best record in the majors at 56-28
- Tampa Bay ace Shane McClanahan will be back on the mound Friday
Tampa Bay won two of three in a series between the 1998 expansion teams. The Rays lead the major leagues at 56-28, while Arizona tops the National League West at 48-34.
Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll left after four innings with right shoulder soreness.
Arizona's Yonny Chirinos (4-3) allowed one run and seven hits over six-plus innings of relief that followed opener Zack Littell. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit his 12th homer of the season leading off the seventh.
Brandon Pfaadt (0-3) allowed six runs and seven hits in two-plus innings, raising his ERA to 9.82. He was recalled from Triple-A to make his sixth start.
Raley put the Rays ahead in the first with his 13th homer. He also singled and was hit by a pitch.
Franco hit a two-run triple in the third and scored on Harold Ramírez’s single for a 4-0 lead. Isaac Paredes walked and Lowe chased Pfaadt with a two-run single.
Mac is back
Rays ace Shane McClanahan said he feels “ready to go” and is scheduled to start Friday at Seattle. The left-hander came out of a start June 22 at Kansas City after 3-2/3 innings because of tightness in the middle of his back.
“I feel good,” said McClanahan, who is 11-1 with a 2.23 ERA. “I can do a better job of taking preventative measures to combat this thing in the future.”
McClanahan threw his regular bullpen session on Sunday and said he did the rest of his between-starts routine without any problems.
“I know he’s gotten a lot of treatment over the last week,” manager Kevin Cash said. “We’ll key on how the ball is coming out of his hand and how his back is feeling.”
Streaking
Arizona’s Christian Walker extended his hitting streak to a career-best 13 games with a second-inning double. Ketel Marte walked in the third and has reached base in 22 consecutive games, the majors’ longest active streak.
Roster move
To make room for Pfaadt on the roster, the Diamondbacks optioned reliever Justin Martinez to Reno, Nevada, after Wednesday night’s game.
Trainer's room
Rays infielder Taylor Walls (back) did not play in the series but expects to be back on Friday. ... Outfielder Randy Arozarena had a scheduled day off.
Next
Rays: McClanahan faces Mariners right-handed pitcher Bryce Miller (5-3, 3.88) in Seattle on Friday.
Diamondbacks: Left-handed pitcher Tommy Henry (4-1, 4.31) goes against Angels right-hander Griffin Canning (6-2, 3.99) on Friday in Los Angeles.