The game did not start well for Colome. After striking out the first batter he faced, Colome gave up two walks and a soft base hit to center to load the bases. He struck out Justin Ruggiano for the second out, but a passed ball allowed a run to score and the runners to move to second and third. However, Colome got out of the jam with a grounder to second to end the inning.

From that point, he settled in, matching Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco pitch for pitch. As the score remained 1-0 Marlins, it became a matter of which pitcher would crack first. In the top of the sixth, it was Nolasco who made the first mistake. After a one out walk, Matthew Joyce hit a laser into the right field seats for a two run home run, putting the Rays on top 2-1.

Colome lasted into the sixth, recording the first two outs before a base hit drove him from the game. After his 27 pitch first inning, he was impressive, giving up just the one unearned run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters in his major league debut.

James Loney added another run, as he led off the seventh with a home run to right to give the Rays a 3-1 lead. They threatened for me, putting runners on first and third with two out, but Ben Zobrist struck out to end the threat. Miami got another run back in the bottom of the eighth, putting runners on first and second with two outs. Joel Peralta got Greg Dobbs to ground to first, but the ball took a bad hop and got away from Loney as Dobbs reached on the error to load the bases. Josh Lueke came in, and walked pinch hitter Miguel Olivo after two calls on check swings went against the Rays. However, with the bases loaded and Tampa clinging to the one run lead, he struck out Rob Brantly to end the threat.

Zobrist came through in the top of the ninth. With runners on first and second, he lined a double down the right field line, plating both runners to give the Rays a 5-3 lead. Fernando Rodney made that lead stand up, recording his eleventh save of the year as the Rays went a season high five games over .500 with their four game sweep of the Marlins.

Jose Molina had a rough day behind the plate, with two passed balls and issues catching several other pitches, but he also went 1-4 with a run scored to extend his hitting streak to eight games.

The game did not look as though it would end up as a pitcher’s duel at the start. The Rays got to Marlins starter Tom Koehler early, with Ben Zobrist leading off with a single and Matthew Joyce following with a double to put runners on second and third. Kelly Johnson singled to plate Zobrist, and the Rays had a run and two runners on base eight pitches into the game. Evan Longoria grounded into a double play to plate Joyce, and the Rays had a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first.

Miami got a run right back, as Marlins leadoff hitter Chris Coghlan doubled to center. Placido Polanco flied out, and Coghlan tagged in an attempt to get to third. Joyce’s throw skipped past Longoria and ended up in the camera well, allowing Coghlan to score as the Marlins cut the lead in half.

From that point, both pitchers settled in. Hernandez was virtually unhittable, retiring eleven batters in a row until Marcell Ozuna had an infield hit off Longoria in the fifth. However, that single did not faze Hernandez, as he continued to mow down the Marlins lineup.

Tampa got an insurance run in the seventh. With one out, James Loney doubled, and moved to third on a base hit by Desmond Jennings. Yunel Escobar hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Loney to give the Rays a 3-1 lead.

Hernandez was in the midst of another dominant run, as he headed into the ninth inning looking for his first complete game since 2010. After two quick outs, he gave up a base hit and was removed in favor of Fernando Rodney. Hernandez gave up the one unearned run on three hits, striking out five and retiring 26 of 27 batters after the Coghlan double to lead off the game. Rodney gave up a sharp liner to right, but Joyce was able to run it down and the Rays prevailed 3-1.

Jennings had a good day at the plate, going 2-2 with a walk, but was caught stealing second after he overslid the bag, and was picked off first. Koehler had an excellent start for the Marlins, giving up only three runs on seven hits and a walk, striking out four in his eight innings of work.

Coming off a big win last night and looking to win 3 straight, Jeremy Hellickson (2-2, 5.37 ERA) took the hill for Tampa Bay against Kevin Slowey and the Miami Marlins for game 2 of the 4 game home and away series.  Hellickson managed going just 5 1/3 while surrendering 5 runs on 7 hits while striking out 3 and walking 1 on 104 pitches.  With the exception of the third inning Hellickson did not pitch too bad by any means.

The young, but talented Marlins opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd inning when rookie right fielder Marcell Ozuna, coming into the game with a 13 game hit streak, lead off the inning with a double to center field.  Former Ray, Justin Ruggiano, then managed a single past the diving Yunel Escobar, scoring Ozuna to give Miami a 1-0 lead.  Hellickson limited the damage to just that one run and made it out of the inning.

The top of the 3rd inning is where it began to unravel for Hellickson.  After two quick outs the Marlins struck again with a single by veteran third baseman Placido Polanco followed by an RBI triple from Derek Diedrich, giving the Marlins a 2-0 lead.  Still not able to close out the inning Hellickson then walked Ozuna followed by yet another triple, this time by former Rookie of the Year Chris Coghlan, scoring both Polanco & Ozuna and giving Miami a commanding 4-0 lead.

During the bottom of the frame Tampa Bay struck back, after loading the bases, with a Matt Joyce sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 4-1.  With runners still on first & second and 1 out the red hot Kelly Johnson crushed a double off the wall in center field making it 4-2.  Marlins pitcher Kevin Slowey was able to get out of the jam by striking out Evan Longoria and then forcing James Loney to pop up to short left.

Tampa Bay slowly chipped away at the Marlins lead in the bottom of the 4th with a 1 out double to left field by Desmond Jennings.  After Lobaton struck out, Yunel Escobar proceeded to lace a double to left center field, scoring Jennings and cutting the lead to 4-3.  During the top of the 6th, Chris Coghlan smashes a solo home run to right extending the Marlins lead to 5-3.  After a quick out manager Joe Maddon went to the bullpen as Hellickson eclipsed the 100 pitch mark.  Jamie Wright came in and pitched great, going 1 2/3 innings, holding the Marlins at bay until the Rays managed a comeback in the bottom of the 6th.  After Loney lined out to center, Luke Scott doubled to right, chasing Marlins starter Kevin Slowey from the game.  Ryan Webb came in and immediately walked Jennings, putting men on 1st & 2nd with one out.  Jose Lobaton, batting well as of late, lined a sharp double down the right field line scoring both Scott and Jennings and effectively tying the game at 5 apiece.  Tampa Bay was able to capitalize with runners in scoring position tonight as they entered the game third in the majors, batting .293 with RISP.

Joel Peralta entered the game in the 8th looking to hold Miami but struggled, giving up one run on two hits and throwing a wild pitch that eventually made the difference as that put a runner on third base.  With a runner on third Greg Dobbs knocked in a run giving Miami a 6-5 lead.  That lead didn’t last long as Tampa Bay charged back in the bottom of the inning on a 1 out single by Luke Scott followed by a single to right by Jennings.  Pinch hitting for Lobaton, who went 2-3 with 2 RBI, Sean Rodriguez proceeded to strike out.  Yunel Escobar, also having a great game, going 3-4 with 2 RBI, singled to right scoring Scott and tying the game at 6 apiece.  With 2 on and 2 out, the always clutch Ben Zobrist was intentionally walked to load the bases for Ryan Roberts, pinch hitting for Matt Joyce.  Roberts grounded into a force out at second on a close play.

In typical Rays fashion, the stars aligned as a comeback was destined for Tampa Bay yet again.  Kelly Johnson led off the bottom of the 9th with an infield single, off the hand of the pitcher but hustling down the line to just beat the throw.  Longoria followed with a single to left bringing Loney to the plate with 2 on and no one out.  Both Loney and then Scott popped out to left field, wasting opportunities with RISP.  After a quick pitching change to veteran Chad Qualls, Desmond Jennings came to the plate looking to close out the game.  On the second pitch he smoked a pitch, going opposite field to right, scoring Johnson for a 7-6 Rays win.

Up next for the Rays is game 3 of the four game home and away series with the Marlins at 7:10 pm as Roberto Hernandez (2-5, 5.73 ERA) takes the mound against Tom Koehler (0-2, 3.18 ERA)