Isaac Paredes hit two doubles and brought in three runs to help the Tampa Bay Rays win 5-3 against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night, completing a sweep of their two-game series.
Brandon Lowe also contributed with two hits and an RBI for the Rays, who have dominated Miami with 23 wins in their last 26 matchups since 2019.
Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena continued his impressive streak by reaching base eight times in the past few games. However, his streak ended when he popped out in the seventh inning.
Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Arozarena’s recent performances, highlighting his improved batting and solid swings.
The Marlins, with a record of 21-41, currently hold the worst record in the National League. They started June with four consecutive losses following a decent May record of 14-13.
Rays starter Zach Eflin returned from injury and pitched four innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three batters. Eflin, who had been sidelined for three weeks due to lower back inflammation, showed improvement as the game progressed.
Five relievers followed Eflin, with Richard Lovelady pitching a perfect sixth inning. Pete Fairbanks closed the game in the ninth inning, earning his eighth save of the season.
Paredes made a significant contribution early in the game, hitting a two-run double against Miami starter Braxton Garrett in the first inning. He later scored on Josh Lowe’s double, giving the Rays a 3-0 lead.
Reflecting on his performance, Paredes credited his improved ability to recognize pitches, which boosted his confidence at the plate.
Although the Marlins managed to narrow the gap with Jesús Sánchez’s RBI double and Otto López’s run-scoring single in the first inning, they fell short against the Rays’ solid performance.
