8/7 - Rays (69-45) @ Mariners (51-63): Game 1

Hideo Nomo: (6 - 2), 2.92 ERA vs. Miguel Batista: (2 - 6), 4.10 ERA

SEATTLE -- The Rays are on a four game winning streak, taking game one of a four game series against the Mariners in Seattle. In the third inning, Kenji Johjima belted a lead-off solo shot to give the Mariners a one-run lead, and Miguel Batista was holding the Rays scoreless until the eighth when B.J. Upton blasted a two-run homer to center to put the Rays on top. Also in the inning, Cliff Floyd hit an RBI single, extending the lead to two, and it's a good thing they got that third run, because in the bottom of the inning, Jose Lopez hit a sacrifice groundout, scoring Willie Bloomquist from third, narrowing the lead to one, but the Rays hang on to win it.

Final Score:
Rays: 3
Mariners: 2


Hideo Nomo (W, 7-2): 8 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Troy Percival (SV, 31): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Akinori Iwamura: 2-5, R
B.J. Upton: 3-5, HR (31), 2 RBI, R
Carlos Pena: 2-5, R
Cliff Floyd: 1-4, RBI


Miguel Batista (L, 2-7): 7 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Jarrod Washburn: 2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Jose Lopez: 1-4, RBI
Kenji Johjima: 1-3, HR (10), RBI, R
Willie Bloomquist: 3-3, R