Ian Seymour pitched six quality innings as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the host Seattle Mariners 4-1 Sunday afternoon to complete a sweep of their three-game series.
Liam Hicks had a two-run double for the American League-leading Rays, who have won six consecutive games and 15 of their past 19.
The Mariners suffered their fourth straight defeat and have scored a total of four runs over that stretch.
Seymour (9-3) allowed one run on five hits. The left-hander walked two and struck out seven. Steven Matz pitched the ninth for his first save of the season.
The Rays threatened in the first inning against Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (6-7), loading the bases with no outs on singles by Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson. Hancock got out of the jam unscathed by striking out Junior Caminero, getting Hicks to foul out to third baseman Weston Wilson and fanning Victor Mesa Jr.
The Mariners took the lead in the bottom of the inning as Taylor Ward led off with a triple off the wall in left-center and scored as Cole Young grounded a single to right.
The Rays tied it in the fourth after Cedric Mullins was hit by a one-out pitch. Mullins advanced to second when Richie Palacios grounded a single to left and scored as Diaz did the same with two outs.
Tampa Bay took the lead in the next inning. Simpson led off with an infield single off Hancock’s glove before being thrown out at second when Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor intentionally let Caminero’s popup drop. Hicks singled to left and Caminero took third on Mesa’s flyout to right. Mullins grounded a single up the middle to make it 2-1 and end Hancock’s afternoon.
The Rays added two runs in the sixth off reliever Jose A. Ferrer. Taylor Walls and Diaz led off with singles, with both runners advancing on a wild pitch. With two outs, Hicks hit a bloop double down the left field line to increase the advantage to 4-1.
Hancock, hampered by a high pitch count, lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on nine hits. The right-hander walked one and struck out three while throwing 96 pitches.
