ST. PETERSBURG — Randy Arozarena had a two-run triple during a three-run third and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Wednesday to avoid a season-series sweep.
Josh Fleming (9-5) allowed two runs along with five hits and Mike Zunino hit his 21st homer for the Rays. Ryan Sherriff, the third Tampa Bay reliever, worked the ninth to get his first save.
“It felt really good,” Fleming said. “Guys are joking in the clubhouse like, ‘No one season-sweeps us.’ They may get one series sweep, but they don’t do it again.”
Tampa Bay went 5-4 during a homestand that also included the New York Yankees, in which the Rays dropped two of three, and a sweep of Boston that elevated the Rays into first place in the AL East.