Rays 3, Phillies 2: Carlos Pena belted a three-run homer in the eighth inning, and David Price tossed seven solid frames as visiting Tampa Bay snapped a three-game losing skid by taking the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
After Cole Hamels exited after scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings, Tampa Bay started its rally following a pair of walks from Antonio Bastardo (2-2). Pena then stepped to the plate and launched a fastball into the seats in right field for his 10th homer of the season - and second in five games.
The towering blast made a winner out of Price (10-4), who yielded one run on four hits and struck out eight.
Burke Badenhop allowed an RBI single to Ty Wigginton before Jake McGee came on to end a bases-loaded threat in the eighth inning. Fernando Rodney worked around a single by Jimmy Rollins to secure his 21st save as Tampa Bay won for the fourth time in 11 contests.
Rollins homered for the third straight game when he led off the sixth inning with his 177th career homer. The blast placed him third all-time among National League shortstops - behind Barry Larkin (298) and Rich Aurilia (182).
Rollins' seventh homer this season capped a three-game power surge, marking the third time in his career he has gone deep in three straight games (2006, 2009).
GAME NOTEBOOK: Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee will vie for his first win of the season when he takes the mound in the nightcap. ... CSNPhilly.com reported that the Phillies are planning to activate second baseman Chase Utley on Wednesday. Utley, who is working his way back from chronically injured knees, is expected to play for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. ... Hamels went 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts versus the Rays in the 2008 World Series. He was named the MVP of the series.
Tampa Bay | Philadelphia | |
David Price | Player | Cole Hamels |
Win | W/L | No Decision |
7.0 | IP | 7.0 |
8 | Strikeouts | 7 |
4 | Hits | 3 |
1.29 | ERA | 0.00 |
Tampa Bay | Philadelphia | |
Hideki Matsui | Player | Jimmy Rollins |
1 | Hits | 3 |
0 | RBI | 1 |
0 | HR | 1 |
1 | TB | 6 |
.333 | Avg | .600 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Tampa Bay | 4 | 1 | 7 | .143 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
Philadelphia | 8 | 1 | 13 | .235 | 19 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 |