ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jake Fraley had a two-run single during a five-run third, Chris Flexen went 6 2/3 solid innings, and the Seattle Mariners beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on Monday night.
Fraley, who was activated before the game after being on the COVID-19 injured list since July 18, also made a diving catch in left field on Brandon Lowe’s liner in the third. He went 2 for 4 with a walk and stole a base.
Flexen (10-5) gave up two runs and seven hits, helping the Mariners move within three games of Oakland, which currently holds the second AL wild card. The right-hander struck out six and walked two.
Seattle’s Ty France had three hits with three RBIs, and came within a triple of hitting for the cycle.
Randy Arozarena homered as Tampa Bay saw its divisional lead over Boston drop to one game. The Rays moved into first place during a four-game winning streak that included a 14-0 thrashing of the Yankees and a three-game sweep of the Red Sox.
Kyle Seager and France had RBI singles before Fraley drove in two with his base hit off Michael Wacha (2-3). The fifth run scored on second baseman Lowe’s throwing error.
France had a fourth-inning RBI double and a solo homer during a two-run seventh that put Seattle ahead 8-2.
The Mariners were coming off consecutive walk-off losses at Texas.
After Arozarena connected on a solo shot in the fourth, Kevin Kiermaier tripled and scored on Lowe’s fifth-inning grounder that cut the Rays’ deficit to 6-2.
Wacha allowed six runs and eight hits in four innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: INF/OF Shed Long Jr. (right shin stress reaction) was placed on the 10-day injured list. He has had issues with the shin for nearly a year.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (right forearm tightness) is undergoing treatment and will have his status updated in the next couple days. He left his start at Triple-A Durham Sunday after one inning with left hip soreness.
MOVING DAY
Seattle claimed OF Marcus Wilson off waivers from Boston and optioned him to Triple-A Tacoma. OF Dillon Thomas was designated for assignment.
UP NEXT
Mariners LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-6) and Tampa Bay RHP Luis Patiño (2-2) are Tuesday night’s starters. Patiño, 21, is coming off a victory over the Yankees Thursday in which he went six scoreless innings.
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