Red-hot Rays beat Phillies for 15th win in last 16 games

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. » Mike Zunino and Brett Phillips homered as the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays won for the 15th time in 16 games, topping the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Sunday.

The Rays have won four consecutive games, including a twogame sweep over Philadelphia, since Kansas City stopped their 11-game win streak on Tuesday,

Philadelphia, losers of eight of 11, got a run-scoring double from Brad Miller. The Phillies loaded the bases with two out in the ninth against Diego Castillo, but Odúbel Herrera flew out to deep center field.

Zunino hit his 12th homer with two out in the second, a

two-run drive off Zach Eflin (25). Leadoff hitter Austin Meadows walked after third baseman Alec Bohm, who was part of a defensive shift, overran and failed to catch a foul ball near the coach’s box.

Zunino has four homers over his last eight games.

Phillips hit a solo shot during Tampa Bay’s two-run fifth.

J.T. Realmuto hit a sacrifice fly and Miller had an RBI double off Andrew Kittredge in the sixth that got the Phillies within 4-2. Kittredge replaced Josh Fleming (5-3) with two on and one out.

Fleming entered with two out in the first, following opener Collin McHugh. The lefty gave up two runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Tampa Bay went up 6-2 in the seventh when Joey Wendle hit an RBI single, and a second run scored on Miller’s throwing error from right field.

Eflin lost his season-opening stretch of 10 consecutive starts of six or more innings and two or fewer walks. The righthander permitted four runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings in his fourth straight loss. He struck out five and walked one.

QUITE THE MONTH

Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler made six starts in May

and had 57 strikeouts and just five walks. According to STATS LLC, Wheeler is only the 13th pitcher since 1901 to strike out 57 or more batters in a month and allow five walks or fewer. The others include Gerrit Cole (April 2021), Jacob deGrom (April 2021), Max Scherzer (June 2019), Gaylord Perry (August 1975), Sandy Koufax (September 1963), Walter Johnson (September 1913) and Christy Mathewson (September 1908).

WHIFF MACHINE

Philadelphia righthander Connor Brogdon has made three career appearances against the Rays, facing 13 batters and striking out 10. He struck out four but allowed one run and one hit in 1 2/3 innings on Sunday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: OF Roman Quinn was placed on the 60-day IL with a left Achilles tendon injury. He was hurt running the bases on Saturday.

STEVE NESIUS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Phillies’ Jean Segura (2) looks on as right fielder Brad Miller reaches for a fly ball hit by Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 30, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla.

STEVE NESIUS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Phillies catcher Andrew Knapp, left, talks with pitcher Zach Eflin on the mound during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday, May 30, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla.