Rookie Walls sparks late surge as Rays beat Rangers 7-1
Rookie Taylor Walls had a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning among a season-high three hits
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Rookie Taylor Walls had a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning among a season-high three hits, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 7-1 on Sunday.
The AL-leading Rays trailed 1-0 before scoring three runs in the eighth and four in the ninth to get the series victory in their return to the stadium that hosted their neutral-site World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers last fall.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Tampa Bay loaded the bases with nobody out against Texas reliever John King in the eighth when Brandon Lowe reached on the first of two errors by shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Randy Arozarena singled and pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau walked.
After King (5-4) got fellow lefty Austin Meadows to pop out on a 2-0 pitch, right-hander Josh Sborz came in and walked Yandy Díaz to force home the tying run.
Walls followed with a liner to center that was ruled a double because he took second base with nobody covering. The 24-year-old doubled twice and had a single.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Meadows had a two-run single and Díaz connected for his first homer, a two-run shot off left-hander Brett Martin, in the ninth as the Rays avoided their first series loss since dropping two of three to the New York Yankees at home May 11-13.
J.P. Feyereisen (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in a bullpen game after the Rays decided to give Tyler Glasnow extra rest.
The right-hander got 28-year-old rookie slugger Adolis García as a pinch-hitter on a flyout to the warning track with two on to end the Texas eighth with the Rays leading 3-1.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Nate Lowe brought in the only Texas run against his former team with a double-play grounder in the first inning as the Rangers lost their seventh series in the past eight.
Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier kept the Tampa Bay deficit at 1-0 immediately after entering the game in the seventh, ending the inning with a sliding catch on a looping liner from Kiner-Falefa with Jason Martin on third.
Dane Dunning pitched five scoreless innings with six strikeouts for the Rangers, his third scoreless outing of at least five innings without a decision this season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Michael Wacha went 1 2/3 innings as Tampa Bay's fill-in starter, allowing two hits and his first two walks since April 21 against Kansas City, a span of 17 2/3 innings and 74 batters.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
TRAINER'S ROOM
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Rangers: DH Khris Davis was scratched because of an illness, with second baseman Nick Solak moving into Davis' spot and Charlie Culberson starting at Solak's primary position.
UP NEXT
Rays: Glasnow (4-2, 2.69 ERA) is scheduled for Tuesday's opener of a two-game interleague series at home against Washington. Glasnow had a 7.53 ERA in five appearances against the Nationals, including two starts, while with Pittsburgh.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Rangers: RHP Jordan Lyles (2-4, 5.75) pitches Tuesday's opener of a two-game interleague series at home against San Francisco. Lyles took the loss in the Giants' 4-2 win at home May 11, allowing two runs in five innings.