09/09/26 08:53:00
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09/09 20:51 CDT Victor Mesa Jr. hits homer in support of Jax as Rays top Braves
7-2 in matchup of first-place teams
Victor Mesa Jr. hits homer in support of Jax as Rays top Braves 7-2 in matchup
of first-place teams
By CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) --- Victor Mesa Jr. had two hits, including a home run, Griffin
Jax gave up only two hits and one run in five innings and the Tampa Bay Rays
beat the Atlanta Braves 7-2 on Wednesday night to clinch the series win in the
matchup of division leaders.
Including a 7-1 win on Tuesday night, the Rays have outscored the Braves 14-3
in the first two games of the three-game series.
AL East-leading Tampa Bay hit four homers in Tuesday night's win. Mesa's homer
was the Rays' only extra-base hit on Wednesday night, but Tampa Bay outhit
Atlanta 10-3 and added three steals. Jorge Mateo had a two-run single in a
three-run second inning.
Drake Baldwin's homer in the fourth was the only run allowed by Jax (7-10).
The Rays remained four games ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East with
a magic number of four to clinch their first postseason berth since 2023. The
Braves saw their NL East lead over Philadelphia reduced to three games.
Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lpez (4-4) allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings in
his first appearance since July 26.
Lpez was reinstated from the injured list after missing 34 games with left
knee inflammation. Right-hander Elieser Hernndez was designated for
assignment, left-hander Bailey Falter was recalled and right-hander Bryce Elder
was placed on the 15-day injured list following right knee surgery on Tuesday.
Falter pitched two perfect innings with one strikeout.
Up next
Braves LHP Martn Prez (8-9, 3.25) is scheduled to face Rays RHP Nick Martinez
(14-4, 3.04) in Thursday's final game of the series.
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