Waguespack and 5 relievers combine on a 6-hitter and Tampa Bay Rays beat Giants 2-1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jacob Waguespack and five relievers combined on a six-hitter and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Friday night.
Waguespack gave up one run and four hits over four innings in his first start since Sept. 25, 2019, and fourth appearance this season. Garrett Cleavinger (2-0) followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Phil Maton, Colon Poche, Jason Adam and Pete Fairbanks - who worked the ninth to get his third save in as many chances - closed out the Rays' fifth win in six games. Fairbanks retired the final two batters with a runner on third.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 12: Jacob Waguespack #40 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on April 12, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty
"Really good job from the bullpen from the start really, including Waguespack, he kind of set the tone," Poche said.
Tampa Bay has five starting pitchers on the injured list and the Rays' bullpen entered with an AL-worst 6.43 ERA.
San Francisco has three extra-base hits, including one Friday, over the last three games and gone without a homer in seven straight. The Giants went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position against Tampa Bay.
"Just didn't get great at-bats in those situations," Giants manager Bob Melvin said.
Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead on Amed Rosario's RBI double. Rosario was awarded third when third baseman Matt Chapman was called for obstruction on the Rays' second basemen's slide.
"That's going to look funny all year," Melvin said, "It's the first time we've seen it called like that."
Harold Ramirez scored on Rosario's hit after beating out an infield single.
"I didn't know he was that fast," Rosario said through a translator.
Melvin was ejected by plate umpire Clint Vondrak for arguing after Jorge Soler was called out on strikes on a pitch by Poche with two on to end the top of the seventh.
"He's been calling the top of the zone the whole game and he called that one, which has not been called and it looked like it was way below the zone in that situation," Melvin said. "For me, it was pretty egregious."
San Francisco starter Keaton Winn (0-3) nearly worked out of a base-loaded, no-out jam in the second with a pair of strikeouts, but walked Yandy Díaz on a 3-2 pitch. He avoided further damage by retiring Randy Arozarena on a grounder.
Winn allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. He struck out six.
San Francisco tied it at 1 in the third when Jung Hoo Lee singled, stole second and went to third on catcher Ben Rortvedt's throwing error, and scored on a wild pitch.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: RHP Alex Cobb (left hip surgery) could throw off a bullpen mound next week. … LHP Robbie Ray (Tommy John surgery) is throwing off a mound and is expected back sometime after the All-Star break.
Rays: 2B Brandon Lowe (right oblique strain) was placed on the 10-day IL and INF-OF Niko Goodrum was recalled from Triple-A Durham.
UP NEXT
Giants RHP Logan Webb (0-1) and Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (1-1) are Saturday's starters.
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