Rangers score 4 runs in 3rd inning to take down Rays

The Texas Rangers scored four times in the third inning and beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 in their series opener Friday night in front of 24,483 in Arlington, Texas.

Rangers right-hander Tyler Mahle (1-0) earned the win after holding the Rays scoreless on one hit and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.

The Rays scored twice in the seventh on wild pitches after Christopher Morel and Kameron Misner led off the inning with a single and double against reliever Shawn Armstrong. Morel scored on a wild pitch from Armstrong and Misner scored on a wild pitch from Chris Martin. Armstrong was charged with two runs on three hits and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings.

The runs in the seventh ended a stretch of 25 consecutive scoreless innings for Texas pitchers since the eighth inning on Monday in Cincinnati. It's the club's longest scoreless stretch since a 26-inning stretch in June.

Josh Smith led off the third with a single and scored on Kyle Higashioka's double to left field to start the Rangers' four-run third. Five of the Rangers' six hits came in the third. Smith finished with two of the six hits, including a solo home run in the seventh that pushed Texas' lead to 5-2.

Rays right-hander Zack Littell (0-2) allowed five runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings and took the loss.

Brandon Lowe had two of the Rays' six hits. Tampa Bay was 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left five on base.

Luke Jackson struck out two in a perfect ninth to earn his fourth save for the Rangers.

The teams continue their weekend series with Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (0-0, 0.00) facing Rays right-hander Taj Bradley (1-0, 3.00) in Game 2 on Saturday.

--Field Level Media