Rays win reunion with former skipper Maddon
Cubs starter Lester allows six runs
CHICAGO — Joe Maddon’s Tampa Bay reunion didn’t go quite the way he wanted.
Tim Beckham homered, and the Rays hung on to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-5 on Tuesday.
Beckham’s two-run drive highlighted a five-run fourth against Jon Lester (5-5). Alex Colome gave up two runs in the ninth, but the Rays won their first meeting against their former manager since he left for Chicago following the 2014 season.
Maddon chatted with Evan Longoria and some of his former staffers, such as pitching coach Jim Hickey and third base coach Tom Foley, as the Rays took batting practice.
“They’re a great bunch of guys,” Maddon said. “There’s a lot of humor on that side, and I got my giggles in.”
The Rays got the final word even though things got tense near the end. Colome threw 38 pitches in the ninth but came away with his 22nd save in 26 chances.
He gave up a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Albert Almora
Jr. and walked Jon Jay to put runners on first and second. After Kris Bryant popped out, Anthony Rizzo lined an RBI single to make it 6-4.
Ben Zobrist then bounced into a force to bring home another run. Ian Happ walked on a 3-2 pitch to put men on first and second, before Jason Heyward hit a fly to left.
“You’re going to have some games where a team comes back,” manager Kevin Cash said. “They’re a very good club and they believe they’re never out of game. They gave us every bit of it, but it was nice to see us come out on top.”
Chris Archer (7-5) picked up his third win in four starts, giving up three runs and eight hits in six innings. The former Cubs prospect also had an RBI single after a fake bunt for his first career hit.
Chicago lost for the fifth time in seven games on another frustrating afternoon. The defending World Series champions have hovered around
.500 all season after winning it all for the first time since 1908 last fall.