ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brad Miller hit two of the Tampa Bay Rays‘ five home runs in a 15-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.
Evan Longoria had three hits and his 27th homer while tying Carl Crawford atop the Rays’ career list with his 1,235th game played.
Nick Franklin and Corey Dickerson also homered, and the Rays won their third straight.
Franklin and catcher Luke Maile each had three of Tampa Bay’s 16 hits, and Maile drove in four runs.
Miller’s first home run came in the fourth inning, driving in the eighth run off starter Edwin Jackson. Miller’s two-run homer in the fifth was his 24th and his 10th since the All-Star break.
Rookie Blake Snell (4-5) struck out eight in five innings, giving up one run, five hits and four walks. Alexei Ramirez, who had two hits for the Padres, drove in their only run with a bases-loaded walk.
Jackson (3-3) gave up eight runs, nine hits and three walks in four innings.
The Rays entered the game with an AL-low .240 batting average but have scored 35 runs in their past three games.
Rays shortstop Matt Duffy left the game in the fourth inning with a sore left Achilles tendon. It was his fifth game since being activated from the disabled list with an injury to the same tendon.
MOVING DAY
The Padres recalled RHP Kevin Quackenbush from Triple-A El Paso and optioned RHP Leonel Campos to the Chihuahuas. Campos had a 6.59 ERA in 10 games after allowing five runs in Monday’s 8-2 loss to the Rays.
DECISION TIME NEARING
The Rays plan to discuss Wednesday the next step for RHP Chase Whitley, one of two pitchers nearing a return from Tommy John surgery. Options for Whitley, who pitched six scoreless innings Tuesday night in a rehab assignment, include being reinstated from the disabled list in the coming week or continuing to build up innings in the minors. Alex Cobb is expected to complete his rehab assignment by the end of the month.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (right shoulder inflammation) threw 31 pitches in a simulated game. The Padres’ plan is to "get him back on the mound before the year’s out," manager Andy Green said . … OF Jon Jay (fractured right forearm) is not ready to return, as determined by a CT scan. Jay has been on the disabled list since June 20.
Rays: 2B Logan Forsythe was scratched from the lineup due to back spasms. … RHP Kevin Jepsen said he was fine one day after taking a liner by Christian Betancourt off the fingers of his right hand in the ninth inning.
UP NEXT
Padres: LHP Christian Friedrich (4-8) makes his 17th start of the season Wednesday in the final game of a nine-game trip.
Rays: RHP Chris Archer (6-16), who leads the majors in losses and the AL in strikeouts with 177, is attempting to avoid becoming the first 20-game loser since Detroit’s Mike Maroth lost 21 in 2003.
