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Rays blank Mariners to stop 10-game slide

Jun 7, 2014 - 6:11 AM St. Petersburg, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Erik Bedard tossed six shutout innings and the Tampa Bay Rays ended their 10-game skid with a 4-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

Tampa Bay, desperate for a win after sliding to the worst record in the majors, avoided defeat for the first time since an 8-5 victory over the Red Sox on May 25. The 10-game slide matched Boston for the worst losing streak in the majors this season.

Bedard (3-4) struck out eight and limited Seattle to just four hits, ending a personal three-game skid.

Jake McGee and Joel Peralta each faced the minimum in relief innings before Grant Balfour finished it in the ninth.

Yunel Escobar went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Evan Longoria, James Loney and Kevin Kiermaier all had two hits and a run scored for the Rays. Jose Molina also had his first RBI of the season.

"It was good to put the team ahead. I play for the team, I don't play for myself," Molina said. "It helped the team to get that run in ... so I'm happy with it."

Chris Young (5-3) was tagged for three runs on seven hits and five walks for Seattle, departing after just five innings of work. The Mariners had a five- game winning streak broken.

"This is one of those days where we didn't play very well," said Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon. "Those things happen. We have to put it behind us and get ready for tomorrow."

The Rays got to Young with a run in the fourth inning. Kiermaier doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch before Molina sent a sacrifice fly into left field.

Longoria's single one inning later led to two more runs for the hosts. Loney followed with a single to move Longoria to third, and Desmond Jennings plated him with a bunt single down the first base line.

Later in the frame, Escobar drove home Loney with a single to left.

Tom Wilhelmsen got the ball in the seventh inning and surrendered the fourth run. Escobar singled, Kiermaier reached on an infield single and David DeJesus was hit to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Escobar to scamper home.

Balfour allowed a leadoff single to Robinson Cano, who moved to third later in the inning, but Justin Smoak struck out swinging to end it.

Game Notes

Despite the losing streak, the Rays have won five of their last seven at home ... Mariners right fielder Michael Saunders left the game in the fourth inning with a sore right shoulder ... Seattle finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.