Lowe homers, rookie Arihara beats Rays, 5-1, for his first MLB victory
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Nate Lowe hit a solo homer and Texas rookie Kohei Arihara got his first major league victory, pitching into the sixth inning Wednesday night as the Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1.
Arihara (1-1) allowed two singles and a double over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his third start since signing with the Rangers after six seasons with the Hokkaido NipponHam Fighters of Japan’s Pacific League.
Lowe, a former Rays draft pick traded from Tampa Bay to Texas in December, went deep against ex-teammate Josh Fleming (0-1) for a 1-0 lead the Rangers clung to until David Dahl’s two-run double and Adolis García’s two-run triple broke it open in the seventh.
Fleming struck out five and walked none before being replaced by John King with two outs in the fifth.
The Rays avoided a shutout when Brandon Lowe homered leading off the ninth against reliever Kyle Cody.
Fleming yielded one run and four hits over five-plus innings in his season debut. The 24-year-old lefthander went 5-0 with a 2.78 ERA in seven appearances (five starts) last season while helping Tampa Bay compile the best record in the AL.
The sputtering Rays have been held to 13 runs over their past five games — five through the first three nights of a four-game series the concludes Thursday.
Fleming, disappointed not to make the opening-day roster, filled in well for injured Chris Archer, allowing only a solo homer by former Ray Nate Lowe, while working into the sixth.
But reliever Chris Mazza, after escaping a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the sixth, gave up four in a messy seventh that started, as many rallies do, with a leadoff walk.
The hitters did little to help, as the Rays (5-7) lost for the seventh time in their past 10 games.
They have been one of the league's least-productive teams so far this season, scoring five runs in the first three games of this series and just 13 total over their past five.
Fleming left after allowing a single to David Dahl and walking Joey Gallo (with no help from homeplate umpire Sam Holbrook) to start the sixth. Mazza allowed a single to Adolis Garcia to load the bases, then wriggled out of trouble.
MULTIPLE CHOICES
The Rays have used seven starting pitchers this season, the most in franchise history through 12 games. Fleming became the 34th player and 19th pitcher used by last year’s AL champions, both major league highs.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: OF/DH Willie Calhoun (left groin strain) is active at the team’s alternate training site, and would have to stay there through at least Friday under COVID-19 protocols, though it’s not certain will be recalled when available Saturday. “Willie is just a matter of if we feel like he’s had enough at-bats and we want to bring him up,” manager Chris Woodward said. … Woodward does anticipate 3B Brock Holt (right hamstring) being ready when he is eligible to come off the injured list Saturday. He is with the team in Florida, going through workouts.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer, who’s less than a week into a stint on the 10-day injured list due to right lateral forearm tightness, played light catch Wednesday. “He’s still feeling it some … but certainly making progress, so we’re happy with that,” manager Kevin Cash said.
UP NEXT
The four-game series concludes with lefty Rich Hill (1-0, 7.20) starting for the Rays as they seek a split. Right-hander Jordan Lyles (1-0, 4.50) takes the mound for the Rangers.