Overview
- The Rays beat the Marlins 7-2 on Friday in St. Petersburg, with Cedric Mullins collecting four hits that included a home run and a stolen base.
- Yandy Díaz put Tampa Bay ahead with a two-run homer in the first inning, and the club manufactured two more runs in the second with a bunt, a steal, a sacrifice fly, and a chopper that scored a runner.
- Taylor Walls widened the margin with a two-run double in the fourth, and Mullins added a solo shot in the sixth to restore a five-run lead.
- Ian Seymour opened with two innings before Jesse Scholtens delivered five strong frames for the win, continuing the Rays’ successful use of an opener followed by a long reliever.
- Miami’s offense came from solo homers by Connor Norby in the second and Jakob Marsee in the sixth, and the series turns to Saturday’s Alcantara–Martinez matchup.