Snell shuts down Mariners; Rays hit 2 homers in 3-0 win
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Blake Snell allowed only two hits in seven innings for his second consecutive win following a long drought, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 3-0 on Sunday.
Kevin Kiermaier and Adeiny Hechavarria homered for the Rays, who snapped a four-game skid and won for the first time in six tries against Seattle this season.
Snell, who ended a streak of 16 winless starts with a victory Tuesday at Toronto, gave up a leadoff single to Nelson Cruz in the second inning and another single to Robinson Cano in the eighth. The left-hander retired 12 straight during one stretch.
Snell (2-6) struck out eight and walked two, winning consecutive starts for the first time in his career. Alex Colome pitched the ninth for his 36th save.
Cruz’s single extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
Kiermaier led off the bottom of the first with a home run against Yovani Gallardo, his eighth of the season. It was the first home run since June 2 for Kiermaier, who missed 61 games with a broken hip.
Hechavarria’s third home run of the year, second since being acquired from Miami, came with a runner on in the seventh.
Gallardo (5-9) gave up three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out six.
PUT ME IN, COACH
Cruz, the Mariners’ designated hitter, might be reduced to a pinch-hitting role during Seattle’s upcoming interleague series at Atlanta. The slugger has been pleading with Scott Servais to play the outfield, but the manager says Cruz is too hot at the plate to take any risks. “I’m not saying he couldn’t show up out there, but right now the plan is to be available to pinch hit off the bench,” Servais said. “I say that now. Things could change by Wednesday, but I think we’ve got to be smart.” Cruz leads the AL with 100 RBIs.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: After missing two midweek games with a stomach virus, 3B Kyle Seager is “not 100 percent yet,” according to Servais. Seager was given the day off. ... RHP David Phelps (right elbow impingement) will throw a simulated game in Atlanta before a determination is made about when to bring him off the disabled list.
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