MIAMI — Rays veteran Ryan Yarbrough and top Marlins prospect Sixto Sanchez matched zeroes into the seventh inning Friday night, with one difference.
There was also a contrast in bullpen performances. Yarbrough and two relievers combined on a five-hitter as AL East leader Tampa Bay won its third game in a row by scratching out runs in the eighth and ninth to beat Miami 2-0.
The 22-year-old Sanchez struck out 10 in seven scoreless innings in his second major-league start, but the Rays broke through in the eighth when Yandy Diaz delivered a two-out RBI single.
Michael Perez, a late addition to the Rays lineup, added a two-out run-scoring single in the ninth.