SEATTLE MARINERS (22-23) AT TAMPA BAY RAYS (24-23)MAY 26, 2015

Mariners 7, Rays 6 (10)

WP: Rodney (2-2)
LP: Boxberger (2-2)
SV: Beimel (1)
First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. Temps: 72-in, 86-out Attendance: 9,628

Time of Game: 3:52

GRANT BALFOUR: Was granted his release, ending his stint with Triple-A Durham.
THE LOSS: The Rays blew an 8th-inning lead and fell out of first place in the AL East, 0.5 games behind the Yankees (who
won 5-1 vs. KC)its their fourth straight loss at Tropicana Field after a 5-game win streak here (spanning 2 homestands).
Marked the second time Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger both allowed a home run in the same game, first time to
the same batteronly other time was Sep 11, 2014 at NYY, when Alex Cobb had a no-hitter through 7.1 IPthat was,
coincidentally, the last time the Rays lost when leading after 7 inningsthey won 24 straight in between.
This is the second time this season the Rays bullpen has allowed runs in 5 straight games (also April 15-19).
The Rays allowed their second grand slam of the season (also Chris Young, April 18 vs. NYY off Grant Balfour).
For the third straight game, the Rays fell behind before the first out of the game was recordedits the first time in
franchise history thats happened in 3 straighttoday was Seth Smiths RBI single, yesterday was Robinson Canos
RBI single and Sunday vs. OAK, Billy Burns hit a first-pitch, leadoff homer.
The Rays lost for the first time at Tropicana Field when scoring 6 runs or more since Aug 19, 2014 vs. DET (L 8-6).
JAKE McGEE: The grand slam by Kyle Seager snapped a streak of 96 PA vs. LHB without allowing a home runlast one
was Stephen Vogt on Sep 1, 2013 at OAKwas the first grand slam allowed in his careerwas the Rays first blown save
since Kevin Jepsen on May 3 vs. BALit was their third of the season, which remains 2nd-fewest in the AL.
The 4 runs allowed were his most allowed since May 1, 2013 at KC (career-high-tying 5).
BRAD BOXBERGER: Snapped a streak of 12 straight scoreless appsallowed a go-ahead solo homer to Kyle Seager in
the 10th, his first HR allowed this season after 9 HR in 2014, T-4th among AL relievers.
JAKE ELMORE: Had a pair of 2-out, run-scoring hits: a 2-run single in the 1st and 1-run single in the 3rdalso added a
game-tying fielders choice in the 9th for a career high 4 RBI (prev. 2, 3x-last July 6, 2013 at TEX with HOU)with hits in
his first 2 at-bats, he had reached base in 7 consecutive plate apps and had recorded a hit in 5 consecutive at-batsboth
dating back to his first stint with the Raysthose streaks ended when he fouled out in the 5th inning.
Is 4-for-7 since his recallhas hit safely in his last 12 games between the Rays and Triple-A Durham.
His RBI single in the 3rd inning gave the Rays their first lead Saturday, their 5-2 win over the As.
EVAN LONGORIA: Just missed a walk-off grand slam in the 9th, hitting a 2-run double off the left field wall insteadthe Rays
have never had a walk-off grand slam in franchise history.
Extended his hitting streak to 10 games (.341, 14-for-41) with a 5th-inning singlealthough Desmond Jennings had a
10-game streak spanning 2014-15, its the first hitting streak of 10 or more by a Ray within a season since Wil Myers (12,
July 13-31, 2013)since Myers, there had been 283 streaks of 10 or more games within a season but none for the Rays.
ALEX COLOME: Both runs allowed came as part of a 26-minute, 38-pitch top of the 1st, a career high for pitches in an
inningallowed singles to his first 3 batters facedthrew 56 pitches over his next 4.1 IP and only allowed 2 hitslast hit
allowed was a 2-out single by Nelson Cruz in the 3rdretired 14 of his last 16 batters faced.
Was in line for the win, prior to Jake McGees blown savehas allowed 2 ER or fewer in 9 of 12 career starts.
MARINERS: The grand slam by Kyle Seager snapped a streak of 140 PA with the bases loaded without a grand slam,
longest streak in club historyit was the Mariners first grand slam since Sep 28, 2013 vs. OAK (Brad Miller).
Have won 4 of 5, 5 of 8 and 11 of their last 17 gameshave played 7 extra-inning games (4-3), most in the AL (Oakland, 6, in progress)the Mariners have homered in 5 straight games and in 10 of their last 11 games.
The Mariners are 6-for-18 with RISP in the two games this serieshit .200 (9-for-45) in the first 6 games of the trip.
The Mariners have won 5 straight games at Tropicana Field, extending the longest streak in franchise history here.
KYLE SEAGER: Had his 5th career multi-HR game, first since April 27, 2014 vs. TEXhad his second career grand slam
(also June 5, 2013 vs. CWS, off Addison Reed)it was the Mariners first grand slam since Sep 28, 2013 vs. OAK.
The last Mariner to hit an 0-2 homer in extra innings was Edgar Martinez on Aug 14, 2001 at BOS off Rod Beck.
Had a career high 6 RBI (prev. 5, April 23, 2014 vs. HOU)drove in 6 of the Mariners 7 runs tonight.
Is the first Mariners player with 6 RBI since Kendrys Morales on July 2, 2013 at TEX (6).
Has 4 HR in his last 4 games, along with May 23-24 at TOR7 of his 9 HR this season have come since May 6.
Extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 1st-inning infield single, following an in-game scoring changeits the
longest by a Mariners player since Logan Morrison (13, July 29Aug 12, 2014)hes batting .400/.426/.756 (18-for45) with 5 HR and 10 RBI over that stretchalso has a career-high 21 game on-base streak, longest active in the AL.
NELSON CRUZ: Went 2-for-5 with career hit No. 1,000, a leadoff single in the 10th inningreached via E4 in the AB preceding the Seager grand slam.
J.A. HAPP: Allowed 3 runs, on a pair out 2-out singles by Jake Elmorehas allowed 3 ER or fewer in 7 of his 9 starts this
seasonwas in line to lose for the first time since April 17 vs. TEX, prior to Kyle Seagers 8th-inning grand slam.
Threw 34 pitches in the 1st inning and 77 pitches combined in innings 2-thru-6.
Has gone 6-plus innings in 14 of his last 16 starts, since the end of 2014 (one start cut short via rain delay).
Has a 7.64 ERA (17.2-IP, 15-ER) in 5 career apps (4 starts) at Tropicana Field.
JOE BEIMEL: Recorded his fifth career save and first since June 11, 2009 vs. CIN (with WAS)went 216 apps in between.
HOME RUNS
SEA Kyle Seager
SEA Kyle Seager

#
8
9

Distance Type
386 ft.
GS
412 ft.
solo

Field
right
center

Count Off
0-0
Jake McGee
0-2
Brad Boxberger

TOMORROW: RH Chris Archer (5-4, 2.40) vs. RH Felix Hernandez (7-1, 2.19)
First pitch: 1:10 p.m. Clubhouse: 10:00 a.m.
Kevin Cash Availability: 10:30 a.m.
Broadcast: No TV / WDAE 620 English / WGES 680 Spanish

Inn. Score
8th
6-3, SEA
10th 7-6, SEA

POSTGAME QUOTES
MAY 26 vs. SEATTLE MARINERS
RAYS QUOTES
Rays Manager Kevin Cash
On the loss:
I like the way we came back there. We got big hits, they got big hits. Their hits just ultimately out-numbered ours, more timely. From the way the game started, Jake Elmore picking us up. We talked about getting the big hit. He provided two of them
early. Credit Alex Colome for the way he threw the ball given the first inning and how all the scenario played out. Then you
know what, we had our big boys at the end, just didnt make some plays, didnt make some pitches. Good hitters, we talked
about it to start the series, that their two-three-four guys are a very potent group and they definitely showed that today.
On not completing the comeback:
Obviously when you come back like that, you get frustrated when you put yourself in a position to win, but there were
plenty of other things to be frustrated about. Not at all with the guystheyve come back throughout the course of the
year. Its not even surprising anymore how we bounce back when were down late in games.
On if the bullpen was lined up how he wanted:
Without a doubt. We got beat with our best guys out on the mound and lined up perfectly. Sometimes thats going to happen.
On Franklins eighth inning error:
It didnt help quite a bit. It looked likeif he catches it, its a fairly easy double play ball. When youre talking about man
on third, two outs, as opposed to bases loaded, no outs, it factors.
Jake McGee
On how he felt:
I felt good. I wasnt trying to amp it up too much, just trying to get ahead of guys. I kind of fell behind a few guys tonight
and just didnt have that good of location either.
On Seagers homer:
I was just trying to get ahead right there, especially with no outs, bases loaded. I dont want to fall behind him and he just
got a decent pitch, it leaked back over the plate and he hit it out.
Brad Boxberger
On Seagers 10th-inning homer:
I was able to get ahead early and just made a bad pitch I pretty much threw it right down the middle and he didnt miss
it thats for sure.
MARINERS QUOTES
Manager Lloyd McClendon
On the win:
Did we win that game? Ive been around a long time, this is a first for me in a lot of different respects. There were a lot of
weird things that went on in that ballgame. Sometimes its winning ugly, but you win; thats all that counts.
On Seagers two home runs and the offensive production:
He got home runs off of guys that dont give them up. I mean, theyve been pretty impressive this year and he was just
phenomenal tonight. He saved us. Our guys have been really battling at the plate, and I think were starting to come
around offensively. McGee doesnt give it up. They got guys in there just dont give it up and we had very impressive atbats against them.
On using Beimel to finish the game:
A lot of factors that went into it. I really wanted to stay away from Lowe, the only way I was going to bring him in that
game was against Longoria. I was not using [Smith]. It goes back to my thinking, sometimes you cannot be afraid to lose
a game in order to put yourself in position to win six or seven down the road. I saw enough that led us to believe he
could get us through.
J.A. Happ
On his outing:
When youre out there and having that kind of inning, its tough. I just tried to bare down and find a way to just get us as
deep as we could. I would have felt find throwing as many pitches as it took.
On his changeup:
It felt good coming out of my hand but they hit it hard in that first inning. We tried to adjust from there and get it lower in
the zone. It wasnt consistent for me.
Kyle Seager
On his grand slam off McGee in the eighth inning:
Ive faced McGee in the past, and its certainly not a comfortable at-bat, as hard as he throws. He goes right at you.
There being a guy on third with less than two outs makes it a little bit easier, where youre just trying to get the ball in the
air and get a ball out there far enough.
On his game-winning home run in the 10th off Boxberger:
For me, usually that part of the ballpark Im not too sure about. I knew I hit it good, and it felt good. I was running, put it
that way. That was a very emotional game. It had its momentum turns, for sure. Everybodys obviously very excited and
tired. It was a long one.