SEATTLE — Jose Siri hit a go-ahead two-run homer, Jeffrey Springs pitched five scoreless innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Manuel Rodríguez allowed a two-out single beforing striking out pinch hitter Luke Raley for his second save of the season as the Rays returned to .500 at 66-66 for the 32nd time this season, which leads the major leagues.
Siri's seventh-inning homer came on an 0-2 count with two outs. He hit a slider from JT Chargois (2-1) over the center field wall. Of Siri's 17 home runs this season, five have been tying or go-ahead hits.
''That was a huge hit in the moment,'' Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
After starter Logan Gilbert gave Seattle six innings of excellence, the Rays took advantage of the Mariners' bullpen with Siri's homer and Yandy Díaz's solo blast in the eighth inning.
''It seems like we play a lot of games against this club that come down to the seventh, eighth and ninth inning,'' Cash said. ''So, every add on run is big.''
Springs allowed no runs on one hit, two walks, and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts. He only pitched five innings on 79 pitches as the Rays have continued to ease him back from Tommy John surgery in April 2023.
It was by far his best outing of the season. He did not surrender a hit until the fourth inning, a two-out single into right field from former teammate Randy Arozarena.