Jeremy Hellickson sparks as Tampa Bay Rays defeat Seattle Mariners 8-1 – MLB Update
Tampa Bay Rays’ starter Jeremy Hellickson had a crushing day with the ball, as he tossed seven striking innings in the 8-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in the finale at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington on Sunday, July 31 to take the series 2-1.
Hellickson maintained a no-hitter until the sixth inning but Mariners’ Chone Figgins touched a single to centre-field and Franklin Gutierrez scored a second single. The right-hand pitcher held the Mariners scoreless until the seventh inning, when Casper
Wells stroked a grounder to cost him the first run over 109 pitches. He also allowed five hits and one walk while striking-out two batters to grab his tenth win of the season.
"The fastball command was there, getting ahead of guys early and just throwing strikes," Hellickson said. "When you're getting quick outs and throwing strikes it gives you a little more confidence. I just kept attacking the zone."
McGee carried the impetus in the eighth and struck-out one batter with a no-hitter. Mike Ekstrom tossed a perfect ninth to cement the Rays’ 56th win of the season.
Rays’ batting line-up provided full support to their pitchers, as Evan Longoria opened the game with an RBI single in the first inning. Ben Zobrist drove in a run in the third and Sean Rodriguez scored a double to get 4-0 lead in the fourth. Casey Kotchman
stole a single in the fifth and Ben Zobrist made a single to left to take the advantage to 7-0. Sean Rodriguez also made a homer in the eighth inning to get the eighth run.
Mariners landed nine batters in the plate, who combine to play 33 at-bats but managed just six hits and one over 136 pitches. All of the batters played for four at-bats except Dustin Ackley (0 for 2) and Franklin Gutierrez (2 for 3).
Just like batting squad, the Mariners’ pitching depth also failed to exhibit anything extra ordinary. Jason Vargas scattered six run on nine hits and allowed one walk in just over five innings.
"It's been a rough stretch lately," Vargas said. "I haven't really pitched good since coming back from the break. I'm just not making those big pitches when I need to and I'm getting the pitch count up early."
Dan Cortes received one run, one hit and two walks over a single inning while Charlie Furbush also consumed one run, one hit and one walk over one inning. Josh Lueke was the only pitcher not to allow any run over his single inning.
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