Griffin Jax pitched five strong innings to lead the visiting Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday and clinch a series victory between the division-leading teams.
Tampa Bay (87-58) continues to hold the best record in the American League and has won or split seven of its last eight road series. The Braves (85-61) have lost three in a row.
Making his second start since returning from the injured list with right elbow discomfort, Jax (7-10) allowed one run on two hits and one walk to end a three-start losing streak.
Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez (4-4) came off the injured list with right knee inflammation to make his first start since July 26. He worked 4 2/3 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks.
Four relievers covered the final four innings for the Rays with Steven Matz closing with two scoreless frames.
The Rays rapped out 10 hits, with only one starter failing to get a hit, and scored six-plus runs for the fifth consecutive game.
Tampa Bay got all the runs it needed in the second inning when it produced three runs against Lopez. Victor Mesa Jr. opened with a 415-foot solo homer, his 11th, and Jorge Mateo added a two-run single.
The Rays put up another three-spot in the fourth to extend the lead to 6-0. Cedric Mullins and Richie Palacios had RBI singles and Yandy Diaz added a sacrifice fly.
The Braves cut the lead to 6-1 when Drake Baldwin led off the fourth inning with his 23rd homer of the year, a 419-foot shot to center.
Atlanta’s Matt Olson added a sacrifice fly to center that scored Baldwin in the sixth, but the Rays countered with a run in the seventh on Liam Hicks’ RBI single.
