SEATTLE (AP) — After making a few adjustments in his swing during the last homestand, Tampa Bay’s Mike Zunino is starting to see better results. The proof came against his former team.
Zunino hit a three-run homer off Robbie Ray, Shane McClanahan held Seattle hitless into the fifth inning and the Rays beat the Mariners 4-3 Thursday night for their fourth straight win.
Tampa Bay received all the offense it would need thanks to one swing from the former Mariners catcher. Zunino entered the game batting just .135, but he hit his third homer of the season in the fourth inning. It was Zunino’s fourth homer in 10 games against the team he spent his first six seasons playing for.
“He’s got such great stuff. He doesn’t let you breathe much,” Zunino said. “The fastball is always in, the slider is right under it. You just got to pick a spot and try to hunt it.”
Harold Ramirez also had an RBI single as part of the four-run inning for Tampa Bay.
All the offense for Tampa Bay came in one inning, meaning McClanahan had to match last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner.
McClanahan was overpowering early, received some terrific defensive help and kept Seattle’s slumping offense in a funk. The only hits Seattle managed off the hard-throwing lefty were Jesse Winker’s first homer of the season in the fifth inning and consecutive singles by Ty France and J.P. Crawford in the sixth that ended McClanahan’s night.
McClanahan (2-2) has allowed three earned runs or fewer in all six of his starts. He struck out five and walked two.
“It was a weird night. I felt good and just couldn’t find that rhythm,” McClanahan said. “Ultimately I had to battle and push through.”
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