Jeff Niemann allowed two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings on Wednesday. (Elaine Thompson/AP)
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
Jeff Niemann showed flashes of the dominance he's capable of, firing four perfect innings before giving up a home run in the fifth. The Rays gave him support early and often, as Carl Crawford went 4-for-5 and scored three times in the win.
BATTING 2B: Pena, C (3, Jakubauskas), Upton, B (2, Jakubauskas), Iwamura (6, Jakubauskas), Longoria (7,
Jakubauskas). TB: Upton, B 3; Crawford 4; Longoria 4; Pena, C 2; Burrell; Zobrist; Iwamura 3; Bartlett. RBI:
Pena, C 2 (17), Burrell (6), Longoria 3 (16), Iwamura (5), Bartlett (5), Crawford (8). 2-out RBI: Iwamura; Bartlett. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out: Bartlett 3; Burrell; Upton, B; Navarro 2; Crawford; Pena, C 2. SF: Longoria. Team
RISP: 7-for-22. Team LOB: 13.
BASERUNNING SB: Zobrist (1, 2nd base off White/Johnson,
Ro), Iwamura (5, 2nd base off Batista/Johnson, Ro), Crawford (5, 2nd base off Corcoran/Johnson, Ro). CS: Zobrist
(1, 3rd base by White/Johnson, Ro). PO: Pena, C (1st base by White).
BATTING 2B: Suzuki, I (1, Wheeler). HR: Lopez, Jo (2, 5th inning off Niemann, 2 on, 0 out). TB:
Suzuki, I 3; Lopez, Jo 4; Johnson, Ro. RBI: Lopez, Jo 3 (11). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out:
Chavez, En. GIDP: Betancourt, Y; Beltre, A. Team RISP: 1-for-2. Team LOB: 2.
BASERUNNING CS:
Suzuki, I (1, 2nd base by Niemann/Navarro).
FIELDING E: Betancourt, Y (3, fielding), Beltre, A
(3, throw). Outfield assists: Gutierrez, F (Crawford at 2nd base). DP: (Gutierrez, F-Lopez, Jo). Pickoffs:
White (Pena, C at 1st base).
