Rays’ 17 hits rout Marlins
MIAMI (AP) – Andy Sonnanstine came to the plate five times Friday night, a reflection of how well he pitched, and how well his teammates hit.
Sonnanstine allowed only five baserunners and one run in six innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays had three homers among their 17 hits to beat the Florida Marlins 15-2.
The Rays scored eight runs in the first two innings off Ricky Nolasco. They batted around in the second inning and again in the third to take a 13-0 lead.
By the third, every Rays starter, Sonnanstine included, had a hit. By the sixth, manager Joe Maddon had four reserves in the game. By the ninth, Marlins outfielder Ross Gload was on the mound.
Gabe Gross hit a two-run homer and a two-run double, and Carlos Pena and Dioner Navarro also homered. Jason Bartlett drove in three runs with a double and a bases-loaded walk. For Florida, it was a sour start to the annual intrastate Citrus Series.
Tampa Bay’s 15 runs matched a season high and are the most allowed by Florida this year.