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Devil Rays pound out 13 runs, snap skid

May 25, 2007 - 1:30 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays snapped their latest losing streak in impressive fashion.

Carl Crawford and Dioner Navarro drove in three runs apiece as the Devil Rays pounded out 12 hits en route to a 13-12 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.

In all, four players had multi-hit games and drove in two or more runs for Tampa Bay, which came into Thursday's contest on a five-game slide.

"I like the fact we kept battling and scored a lot of runs," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.

The last time the Mariners surrendered 13 or more runs was during a 14-3 drubbing at the hands of the Red Sox on April 10. Seattle pitchers had given up two runs or less in three of their last four games.

"This series we were able to get the big hits," Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said. "When you score 12 runs and get 18 hits, it's a little tough of a loss to take."

The Mariners got on the board first when Ichiro Suzuki led off with a single - extending his hitting streak to 17 games - and moved to third when Jose Vidro followed with a double. Suzuki came in to score on Jose Guillen's groundout and Vidro scored when Ben Broussard singled.

The Devil Rays countered with three runs in their half of the inning. Crawford tripled home the first run and rookie Delmon Young doubled home a pair to put Tampa Bay on top, 3-2.

"We swung the bats well today," Crawford said. "We were able to keep going and score a lot of runs and we needed every one of them at the end."

The day would not get any better for Seattle starter Horacio Ramirez, who was forced to leave in the top of the third with tightness in his left shoulder.

"It doesn't look to be serious," Ramirez said. "The injury is in the back of the shoulder and does not allow me to finish the pitch. There is no timetable and I will see the team doctor (Friday)."

After Seattle re-took the lead with single runs in the second and third, Ramirez's replacement, Sean White (1-1), proceeded to allow seven runs in just two-thirds of an inning.

The Devil Rays pounded out six hits and drew three walks in the third frame and added two more runs in the fourth on Navarro's triple to right-center field off Seattle's third pitcher of the day - righthander Jason Davis - to push the advantage to 12-4.

"Navarro's going to keep getting better," Maddon said. "He's going to get hot. He keeps his head up and I appreciate that."

The Mariners showed no quit, adding three runs in both the six and seventh innings, chasing Tampa starter Jae Seo (3-4) in the sixth.

Seo, who turned 30 on Thursday, yielded seven runs - six earned - and 13 hits in five-plus innings. It marked the fourth time this season that Seo had given up more than six runs in a start.

"It wasn't one of his better days," Maddon said.

Seattle's comeback bid fell just short. After Ichiro hit a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 13-12 in the ninth, closer Al Reyes struck out Guillen to back into his 13th save of the season.

"They battled back and fortunately Reyes came in and got the final out," Devil Rays second baseman Ty Wigginton said. "We swung the bats pretty good today. Lots of hits, lots of runs."

Jose Lopez had four of Seattle's 18 hits, including a fourth-inning triple. Lopez hit a ball off the outfield wall that eluded center fielder B.J. Upton, prompting third base coach Carlos Garcia to wave Lopez home. However, Lopez was thrown out by several feet.

"When the ball hit the wall, I thought for sure he got it," Garcia said. "I thought there was no way he would get thrown out. It makes me mad because there was no one out at the time. It really (upsets) me."