Rays get strong start from Ian Seymour, 14 hits in sweeping Mariners

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Aug 9, 2026

Published in Baseball

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SEATTLE — The Tampa Bay Rays got the strong start they needed from Ian Seymour and offense from throughout their lineup to beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 on Sunday, completing a series sweep and extending their latest winning streak to six games.

After the bullpen had to cover all nine innings Saturday when Griffin Jax was scratched from a scheduled start due to elbow discomfort, Seymour worked six solid innings, allowing a first-inning run and nothing else.

Relievers Cam Booser, Casey Legumina and Steven Matz took it from there.

Yandy Diaz, who had four hits, and Cedric Mullins both singled in and scored runs as part of a 14-hit attack. Chandler Simpson also had four hits. Trade-deadline acquisition Liam Hicks had the biggest hit, a two-run double after the Mariners intentionally walked slugger Junior Caminero with two outs in the sixth.

The Rays improved their American League-leading record to 71-46 and extended their East Division lead to 5 1/2 games over the New York Yankees, who lost to the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

The Rays wasted a prime opportunity at the start of the game, as their first three hitters — Diaz, Jonathan Aranda and Simpson — all singled off Emerson Hancock. But they got nothing, as Caminero struck out, Hicks popped out and Victor Mesa Jr. also went down swinging.

The Mariners responded with a quick run off Seymour, as Taylor Ward led off with a triple and Cole Young quickly singled him in. But Seymour didn’t allow anything else that inning or over the other five he worked.

The Rays got on the board in the fourth, then took the lead and added on.

Mullins was hit by a pitch with one out in the fourth, went to second on a single by Richie Palacios and scored on a single by Diaz, his first as a 35-year-old, having gone 0 for 5 Saturday on his birthday.

The Rays got another run in the fifth as Caminero reached on a fielder’s choice, went to second on a single Liam Hicks, advanced to third on Mesa’s lineout to right and scored on Mullins’ single.

The big hit came in the sixth.

The Rays had runners on the corners with two outs after Simpson’s attempted squeeze bunt got Taylor Walls tagged out at home.

The Mariners intentionally walked Caminero, not wanting to give him a chance to expand their lead.

But part of the reason the Rays got Hicks in trade last week from Miami was to lengthen the top of their lineup and provide protection for Caminero.

Hicks made the Mariners pay for their decision to walk Caminero, lacing a double to left that scored two, making the score 4-1.

The Rays left after the game for Sacramento, Calif., where they will conclude their nine-game, 10-day road trip with a three-game series against the A’s starting on Monday night.

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