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Rays move into tie for first with win over Braves

While it is only May, early in the MLB season, the Rays have a sense of pride after moving into a tie for first in the AL East after they won and the rival Yankees lost.

5-3 was the score as the red-hot Rays have now won seven of 11.

Erasmo Ramirez rebounded from a 30-pitch second inning to only allow a single baserunner in his other four innings. Tampa took a 1-0 lead in the first when Kevin Kiermaier legged out a hustle triple then was driven in courtesy of a Steven Souza single.

Ramirez made the city of Tampa nervous when he let the Braves load the bases with nobody out in the second, but did about as well as he could to avoid serious damage. He walked Andrelton Simmons to put the first run on the board, then a single by Cameron Maybin put home another. But when pitcher Mike Foltynewicz struck out, an RBI ground-out was the most Atlanta could get.

Evan Longoria drove in Souza to make it 3-2 in the third, then the visiting Rays tied it with an Asdrubal Cabrera home run.

Tampa then took the lead in the fifth when Logan Forsythe's seeing eye single to left plated James Loney. They got the final run of the game when Forsythe was doubled home by David DeJesus.

Foltynewicz struggled in his fourth career start, going an unimpressive five innings and allowing five runs, taking the loss.

Ramirez regained the form he showed last week when he swept through the lineup of the Braves, outside of the second inning. His relievers went four scoreless innings to save the game for him.

Brad Boxberger earned the save in the ninth, while four pitchers, Xavier Cedeno, Brandon Gomes, Kevin Jepsen, and Jake McGee, got credit for a hold.

Atlanta's relievers didn't allow a single hit, but it wasn't enough as the Braves couldn't get the backs moving despite a promising second inning.

Atlanta, who were coming off a weekend sweep of the Marlins, dropped to 18-20, while the Rays moved to 22-18.

The pitching matchup today will be Jake Odorizzi opposed by Williams Perez, making his first start in the majors.

This post was written by a member of the DRaysBay community and does not necessarily express the views or opinions of DRaysBay staff.

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