ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays began the season’s final homestand on a sour note Friday night with a tension-filled 4-3 defeat against the Texas Rangers before an announced crowd of 14,127 at Tropicana Field.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning, Rays first baseman Harold Ramirez grounded into a game-ending fielder’s choice against right-hander Jose Leclerc, the Rangers’ fifth pitcher.
The Rays put the tying run aboard in the ninth inning when leadoff batter Yandy Diaz smashed a full-count single off Leclerc. After Manuel Margot bounced into a fielder’s choice to deep shortstop, Wander Franco worked a four-pitch walk.
But Randy Arozarena popped out in foul ground and Isaac Paredes was hit by a pitch, loading the bases and setting the stage for Ramirez.
The Rays (80-64), who have lost six of their last eight games, remain in control of the American League’s third and final wild-card playoff spot. They are 4 1/2 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles, who were beaten by the Toronto Blue Jays.
For Rays starter Corey Kluber, it came apart in a hurry during the Rangers’ four-run third inning.
With two outs, Kluber (10-9) allowed five consecutive hits to the Rangers, including a two-run double by Corey Seager and a two-run homer by Nathaniel Lowe, an ex-Ray. Lowe, who went by Nate Lowe while with the Rays, now has 25 home runs and 71 RBIs while standing fifth in the AL batting race at .308.
The Rays wasted numerous opportunities and left 12 runners on base, while batting 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position.
Catcher Francisco Mejia (3-for-4) was the most compelling offensive force. He had a run-scoring single in the second inning and an RBI double in the sixth, which cut the Rangers’ lead to 4-3.
Mejia was stopped at third on Jose Siri’s sharp single. Diaz’s fly ball to right fielder Adolis Garcia wasn’t deep enough, but Garcia’s throwing error to the plate bounced away from catcher Jonah Heim, advancing Siri to second and giving the Rays two runners in scoring position.
From there, though, Margot harmlessly flew out.
The Rays had only one baserunner in the final three innings, a one-out walk to Arozarena in the seventh.
The Rays face the Rangers in the second game of the series Saturday night at 6:10.
