ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Mike Zunino and Brett Phillips homered as the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays won for the 15th time in 16 games, topping the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Sunday.
The Rays have won four consecutive games, including a two-game sweep over Philadelphia, since Kansas City stopped their 11-game win streak on Tuesday,
“There’s a lot of things going our way,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “We’d like to think we’re creating some of those things. Guys are taking advantage of opportunities whether it’s at the plate, off the mound or defensively. Anytime you go on a run like this team has been on, you’ve got to do a lot of things right.”
Philadelphia, losers of eight of 11, got a run-scoring double from Brad Miller. The Phillies loaded the bases with two out in the ninth against Diego Castillo, but Odúbel Herrera flew out to deep center field.
Zunino hit his 12th homer with two out in the second, a two-run drive off Zach Eflin (2-5). Leadoff hitter Austin Meadows walked after third baseman Alec Bohm, who was part of a defensive shift, overran and failed to catch a foul ball near the coach’s box.
“I think he was on a dead sprint,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “This is a tough place to pick up popups if you’re not here a lot. He just overran it, probably because you’re in a shift and you’re so far away. It’s a play that he’s capable of making.”
Zunino has four homers over his last eight games.
Celebrating his 27th birthday, Phillips hit a solo shot during Tampa Bay’s two-run fifth.
“Obviously to homer on my birthday, it doesn’t get any better than that other than the win,” Phillips said.
J.T. Realmuto hit a sacrifice fly and Miller had an RBI double off Andrew Kittredge in the sixth that got the Phillies within 4-2. Kittredge replaced Josh…
Leave a Reply