ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays began the season’s final homestand on a sour note Friday night with a tension-filled 4-3 defeat against the Texas Rangers before an announced crowd of 14,127 at Tropicana Field.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning, Rays first baseman Harold Ramirez grounded into a game-ending fielder’s choice against right-hander Jose Leclerc, the Rangers’ fifth pitcher.
The Rays put the tying run aboard in the ninth inning when leadoff batter Yandy Diaz smashed a full-count single off Leclerc. After Manuel Margot bounced into a fielder’s choice to deep shortstop, Wander Franco worked a four-pitch walk.
