The Seattle Mariners hosted the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night for the second game of a three-game series at Safeco Field. The Mariners got exactly what they wanted, but it took a strong game from the pitching staff and a clutch two-out walk-off hit to even the series with a 3-2 win.
The Rays started the scoring early, as B.J. Upton hit an RBI triple and came in to score on an Evan Longoria sacrifice fly.
The Mariners managed to cut the lead in half with an RBI double by Miguel Olivo in the second inning, but the starting pitchers held things right there. Rays starter Matt Moore kept the Mariners to one run on six hits and a walk, while striking out nine.
Mariners starter Kevin Millwood had one of his better starts in some time, giving up two runs on eight hits and one walk, while striking out eight. He didn't get the decision, but was able to keep the M's in the game until the end.
Finally, in the bottom of the ninth, Kyle Seager led off the inning with a single and was bunted to third by Chone Figgens, with the help of a Carlos Pena throwing error. Smoak drove in Seager and sent Figgins to third with a sacrifice fly to tie things up. Finally, Eric Thames, who had been 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, hit a two-out single to right field for the walk-off win.
In his return to the big leagues, Justin Smoak was 1-for-2 with a double, a run, an RBI and a walk.
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