Final
Rays, Padres conclude set at Tropicana Field
May 12, 2013 - 2:51 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays will lean more on Roberto Hernandez -- and perhaps a little less on the dramatics -- when they meet the San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon to wrap up a three-game series at Tropicana Field.The Rays won their second straight in the series and fourth in a row overall in stirring fashion on Saturday, when Evan Longoria hit a game-winning, two- run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to provide an 8-7 win.
Reliever Huston Street (0-2) blew the save while trying to hold a 7-6 San Diego lead heading into the ninth. The right-hander retired the first two batters he faced, but walked Ben Zobrist and then served up Longoria's clutch home run.
"It takes the team to be able to get you up to the plate in those opportunities, and fortunately enough I've been able to come through," Longoria said. "It doesn't get any better than being able to be in the moment and come through, so it feels good."
The Padres had taken the lead after scoring five runs in the seventh. Pinch- hitter Jesus Guzman hit a grand slam and Carlos Quentin walked with the bases loaded.
Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson entered the seventh with a four-run advantage, but loaded the bases and allowed Guzman's game-tying blast. Reliever Jamey Wright quickly filled the bags again, before Quentin walked to force in a run.
James Loney added a two-run shot and Yunel Escobar drove in two runs for the Rays. Cesar Ramos (1-0) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win.
Hernandez, previously known as Fausto Carmona, has won just once in six starts for the Rays, with whom he signed after making 184 big-league appearances with the Cleveland Indians.
He won 19 games with Cleveland in 2007 and 13 more in 2010, but was 0-3 last season and was granted free agency at the end of October. He then signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal in December.
Hernandez dropped his initial three starts with Tampa Bay, then broke through for a victory after allowing a run on three hits in six innings of an 8-1 triumph over Oakland on April 21.
Two starts since have yielded a loss and a no-decision while he's surrendered 13 hits and six runs in 12 innings.
Hernandez has never faced the Padres.
San Diego goes with lefty Eric Stults, who's unbeaten in three starts since a loss at San Francisco on April 21.
The 33-year-old Indiana native won eight games while splitting 2012 between the Chicago White Sox and the Padres.
He opened 2013 with a 2-1 win over the New York Mets on April 4, then lost two of three starts before beginning the aforementioned unbeaten string on April 27.
Stults allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings of his last outing, a 5-1 defeat of Miami on May 7.
He has never faced the Rays.
- SAN DIEGO: 2
TAMPA BAY: 4
Final
May 12 4:32 PM - James Loney lead-off Home Run (3) to center. Sean Rodriguez due up.
Padres 2, Rays 4 Bot 8, 0 OutsMay 12 4:16 PM - Yunel Escobar double to right scored Sean Rodriguez with one out. Runner on second and Jose Molina due up.
Padres 2, Rays 3 Bot 6, 1 OutMay 12 3:37 PM - Sean Rodriguez single to center scored Evan Longoria with one out. Runner on first and Yunel Escobar due up.
Padres 2, Rays 2 Bot 6, 1 OutMay 12 3:31 PM - Alexi Amarista one-out, solo Home Run (2) to right center. Nick Hundley due up.
Padres 2, Rays 1 Top 5, 1 OutMay 12 3:00 PM - Yonder Alonso single to center scored Chase Headley with one out. On the play, Carlos Quentin advances to third. Runners on first and third and Chris Denorfia due up.
Padres 1, Rays 1 Top 4, 1 OutMay 12 2:47 PM - Jose Molina sacrifice fly to right scored Evan Longoria with two outs. On the play, James Loney advances to third. Runners on first and third and Sam Fuld due up.
Padres 0, Rays 1 Bot 2, 2 OutsMay 12 2:14 PM - SAN DIEGO: 0
TAMPA BAY: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 12 1:41 PM
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