Not enough as Rays lose
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Former Mississippi State player Nate Lowe had an RBI double to get Tampa Bay going in the first inning, but rookie Luis García hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Washington Nationals beat the AL East-leading Rays 4-2 on Wednesday.
With Carter Kieboom on second base to start extra innings, the 20-year-old García hit a leadoff drive on the first pitch from Nick Anderson (1-1).
“I just told him to get ready for the fastball,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “I asked him (afterwards), ‘What was that pitch?’ He’s finally learning. He responded, ‘That’s a homer pitch.’” I said ‘atta boy.’”
Anderson had not allowed a run in his previous 14 appearances this season.
“It’s bound to happen,” Anderson said. “I just missed my spot.”
Brandon Lowe got the Rays even at 2 when he hit a solo homer off Daniel Hudson (2-2) on a 2-2 pitch with two outs in the ninth.
Kyle Mcgowin struck out three in the 10th to get his first save.
“The fact that we come back, keep playing, like I’ve said all along, we don’t quit,” Martinez said. “That’s awesome. These guys are giving it their all, going out and playing hard.”
Tampa Bay completed a stretch of eight consecutive games against last-place teams at 3-5.
“The last 10 games we certainly haven’t been firing offensively,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We’ve got to get going here.”
Asdrúbal Cabrera homered and Austin Voth allowed one run and four hits over five innings for the Nationals.
Juan Soto drew a one-out walk from reliever Oliver Drake in the sixth and scored on Cabrera’s homer that put Washington ahead 2-1.
Drake was making his first appearance since Aug. 8 after being sidelined by right biceps tendinitis.
Nate Lowe had an RBI double in the first. He has eight RBIS over his last five games.
Voth intentionally walked Nate Lowe with a runner on second and two outs in both the third and fifth innings and ended the threats by retiring Manuel Margot.
Kyle Finnegan walked Nate Lowe on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases with two outs in the seventh but then got a grounder from Margot.
The Rays left 11 on base and struck out 16 times.
“I feel like we couldn’t get a big hit when we had a lot of guys on base,” Tampa Bay shortstop Willy Adames said. “We only got the big hit when Brandon Lowe hit a homer.”
Cardinals 4, Brewers 2
MILWAUKEE — Adam Wainwright shook off an early home run and pitched a four-hitter, leading the St. Louis Cardinals past the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of a doubleheader.
Former Mississippi State pitcher Brandon Woodruff (24), who also went the distance for the Brewers, allowed three earned and seven hits. He struck out five and walked none.
Cardinals manager Mike Shildt ran the team in the opener. He was to miss the nightcap while serving a one-game suspension, imposed by Major League Baseball after tempers flared during the Brewers’ 18-3 romp Tuesday night.
Wainwright (5-1) struck out nine in the seven-inning complete game as the Cardinals reached .500 in their bid for a spot in the expanded playoff field.
Christian Yelich hit a oneout single in the Milwaukee first and Keston Huira followed with his 13th home run. Wainwright quickly settled down and allowed just two singles and a walk the rest of the way.
Tyler O’neill hit a solo homer in the second and Brad Miller’s seventh homer, a solo drive in the sixth, put the Cardinals up 4-2.
After the first, Wainwright was only in trouble once. With two outs in the fifth, Omar Narvaez walked and Avisaíl García singled, bringing up Yelich, coming on after a slow start.
Wainwright retired Yelich on a bouncer to second.