The Tampa Bay Rays (34-29) defeated the Miami Marlins (23-38) 4-3 on Friday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field. With the win, the Rays have now won the first four games of their six-game homestand in Tampa.
Jonathan Aranda hit a RBI single in the first to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. The Rays added two more in the third, first on a RBI groundout from Aranda, before Jake Magnum hit another RBI Groundout to make it 3-0. After the Marlins got one back in the fourth, Matt Thaiss hit a RBI single in the seventh to make it 4-1 and give the Rays some much-needed insurance.
The Marlins got two back in the eighth inning before Pete Fairbanks earned his 12th save with a perfect ninth inning. He saved the win for Zack Littell (6-5, 3.68) who picked six innings in which he allowed one earned run on six hits while striking out four and walking none.
The Rays and Marlins are now scheduled to meet in the middle game of the three-game series coming up on Saturday afternoon. Taj Bradley (4-5, 3.95) is scheduled to start for the Rays, opposed by Ryan Weathers (1-1, 2.49) for the Marlins. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM - Chris Adams-Wall begins pregame coverage at 3:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES