Richie Shaffer homers in home debut, Rays take series from Mets
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Aug 9, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designator hitter Richie Shaffer (36) singles during the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Rookie Richie Shaffer hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning and the Tampa Bay Rays once again rallied from an early three-run deficit, beating the New York Mets 4-3 Sunday.
For the second straight day, the Rays quickly fell behind 3-0 to the NL East leaders.
Shaffer's third hit in three at-bats against Bartolo Colon (10-11) was a solo shot into the left-field seats. Shaffer entered with one hit -- a homer -- in seven at-bats this season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
John Jaso drove in three runs for the Rays, who reached the .500 mark at 56-56.
Xavier Cedeno (2-1) pitched a scoreless seventh while Jake McGee got three outs to pick up his sixth save.
The Mets have lost two straight following a seven-game winning streak.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A day after the Mets scored three runs in the first inning, they got three in the second when starter Chris Archer lost his control.
Curtis Granderson got an RBI by drawing the fourth walk issued in the inning by Archer, and Daniel Murphy followed with a two-run single.
Jaso hit a sacrifice fly in the third and added a two-run double in the fifth that pulled the Rays even at 3.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Archer gave up three runs, four hits, four walks and struck out 10 over six innings. All the walks and eight of his strikeouts came in the first three innings for the All-Star.
The Rays are 33-30 in games decided by two or fewer runs this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Mets: 3B David Wright will start a rehab assignment Monday with Class A St. Lucie. ... OF Michael Cuddyer (left knee) is expected back Monday.
Rays: CF Kevin Kiermaier (right thumb) was out of the lineup, but was a pinch-runner in the seventh. "Tried swinging a bat, but didn't have a whole lot of feel," he said. ... C Curt Casali, hit on the left temple Saturday on a back swing by Mets C Travis d'Arnaud, is fine. "It comes with the position," Casali said. D'Arnaud texted an apology to Casali.
UP NEXT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Mets: LHP Jonathon Niese (6-9) will be at home to face Colorado RHP Jon Gray (0-0) Monday night. It will be Gray's second big league start.
Rays: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (8-4) and Atlanta RHP Williams Perez (4-2) are Tuesday night's starters at Tampa Bay.