Rays outhit and outscore Reds

Erasmo Ramirez #30 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the second inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on June 21, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

(June 21, 2017 - Source: Brian Blanco/Getty Images North America)

The Tampa Bay Rays (39-36) outhit the Cincinnati Reds (30-41) 14-5 as they win 8-3 in the rubber game. The Reds have now lost 11 of their last 12 games.

The Rays broke out in front in the third inning. With one out C Jesus Sucre walked and LF Mallex Smith kept his hitting streak alive with a single. One out later Steven Souza Jr. singled and drove in Jesus Sucre for the first run of the game.

Tampa Bay extended the lead in the fourth. 3B Trevor Plouffe led the inning off with his eighth home run of the season and his first in a Rays uniform. The 31-year old was acquired from Oakland on Saturday and made his third consecutive start for Tampa Bay.

SS Daniel Robertson followed with a walk and CF Peter Bourjos hit a one-out infield single. One out later Mallex Smith singled and drove in Daniel Robertson to put the Rays up 3-0.

RF Scott Schebler’s leadoff home run in the fifth inning got the Reds on the scoreboard. It was his 20th long ball of the year.

The Reds closed the gap to one run in the sixth. They loaded the bases with a one-out single from 2B Scooter Gennett, a walk to 1B Joey Votto and a two-out walk to 3B Eugenio Suarez. Scott Schebler reached on an infield single next, enabling Scooter Gennett to come home.

The Rays pulled away in the bottom of the frame. They led off with three consecutive singles from 2B Taylor Featherston, Peter Bourjos and Jesus Sucre, though Featherston became an out while trying to advance to third base on Peter Bourjos’ infield hit.

DH Corey Dickerson singled with two outs and drove in Peter Bourjos for a 4-2 lead. Steven Souza Jr. followed with a single to drive Jesus Sucre home and 1B Logan Morrison hit a two-run RBI double to put Tampa Bay up 7-2.

An exchange of runs in the seventh inning made it an 8-3 game for the Rays. DH Jesse Winker led off with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch with two outs. CF Billy Hamilton grounded out next but Jesse Winker came home to score for Cincinnati. Taylor Featherston responded with his second homer of the season to restore the five-run lead for Tampa Bay.

The Reds threatened to rally in the eighth when they loaded the bases but the Rays managed to get out of the inning without surrendering a run.

RP Chase Whitley pitched 1.2 perfect innings to earn his second save of the year.

Cininnati’s SP Tim Adleman (4-4) went 5 innings, giving up 7 hits, 4 walks and 3 earned runs while fanning 7. He now has a 4.30 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP on the season.

Tampa Bay’s SP Erasmo Ramirez (4-2) pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 2 hits, 3 walks and 2 earned runs while striking out 6. He posts a 5.01 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP this year.

Trevor Plouffe went 1-for-3 with a solo home run. He is batting .219 and has 24 runs, 8 HR and 15 RBI this season.

The Cincinnati Reds travel to the Washington Nationals (43-29) to play a three-game series from Friday to Sunday.

The Tampa Bay Rays continue their homestand with a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles (35-35) from Friday through Sunday.