• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Longoria homers as Rays handle Mariners

Aug 16, 2013 - 5:36 AM St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Evan Longoria's two-run homer in the fifth inning helped lift the Tampa Bay Rays over the Seattle Mariners, 7-1, in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Wil Myers went 3-for-4 with four RBI while crossing the plate twice for the Rays, who have now won their last two after enduring a losing streak of six games.

Alex Cobb (7-2) tossed five innings in his first game back from the disabled list. Cobb landed on the DL after being struck on his right ear by a line drive in a game against Kansas City on June 15. The right-hander only gave up one run on three hits while fanning six batters.

"It was awesome," Cobb said of returning to the mound. "It's a feeling you can't duplicate anywhere else but being out on the mound and competing at the big league level."

Joe Saunders (10-12) lasted only 4 1/3 innings, but still collected the loss. The left-hander allowed five runs on seven hits with three walks. Saunders has lost four of his last five starts.

Raul Ibanez drove in Seattle's only run of the game with a solo shot in the second. The Mariners have now dropped four of their last six.

"Early in the ballgame we barreled up some balls," Mariners acting manager Robby Thompson said. "A couple of those balls, two or three of those find a hole, maybe a different ballgame in the beginning of that."

Jose Lobaton was walked to start off the third inning, but was soon out at second as Sam Fuld reached first on a fielder's choice. Sean Rodriguez hit a pop up single to put runners on first and second before Myers hit a single to left to plate Fuld from second to tie the game. Ben Zobrist was walked to load the bases with two outs before Yunel Escobar popped up to end the Tampa Bay threat.

The Mariners left the bases loaded in the fifth. Dustin Ackley hit a ground- rule double down the left-field line, but the instant replay clearly showed that the ball landed into foul territory. Henry Blanco and Brad Miller were both walked to load the bases. Cobb struck out Nick Franklin on a full count to escape the inning without giving up a run.

Tampa Bay tacked on four more runs in the bottom half. Fuld singled off Saunders' glove up the middle to lead off the frame. Rodriguez followed up by hitting a fly ball to shallow center that dropped between Franklin and Miller for a single. Myers hit a sharp double down the left-field line to plate Fuld and Rodriguez. Longoria belted a fly ball over the wall in left to bring home two more runs.

Myers got on base again in the seventh after being hit by a pitch from reliever Brandon Maurer. Maurer gave up a single to Longoria to put runners on first and second with no outs. Escobar hit a single up the middle to drive in Myers from second.

Jose Lobaton singled to left in the bottom of the eighth before Myers drove him home with his second double of the game.

James Loney made a great catch at first base to start off the game. He dove and stopped the ball from trickling down the right-field line to secure the first out.

Ibanez crushed a solo shot to deep right field in the top of the second.

Game Notes

It is exactly one year since Felix Hernandez threw his perfect game against Tampa Bay for Seattle ... Tampa Bay is second in the majors with the fewest errors committed (43) ... Prior to the game, Cobb was reinstated from the 60- dayDL and infielder Ryan Roberts was designated for assignment.