Francisco Mejía stole the sack in the 8th, major league-leading Rays beat Brewers 1-0

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Francisco Mejía hit a sacrificial fly in the eighth inning and the major league-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Milwaukee Brewers 1-0 on Friday night.

Luke Raley was hit by a throw from Peter Strzelecki (2-3) at the start of the eighth. Raley stole second, went to third on catcher William Contreras’ throwing error, and headed home on Mejía’s volley on the left.

Jason Adam (1-1) knocked out Willy Adames to finish eighth with Owen Miller in third. Peter Fairbanks worked the ninth for his fourth save, blocking a runner on the third.

Tampa Bay (33-13), after a 4-6 trip, improved to 20-3 at home.

Rays ace Shane McClanahan failed in his bid to become the major’s first eight-game winner despite seven shutout innings in which he allowed six hits and seven strikeouts, and saw his ERA drop by 2 .34 to 2.05.

McClanahan was coming off his worst outing of the season when he allowed four runs in four innings against the New York Yankees on May 13.

Milwaukee’s Adrian Houser scatter four hits in six scoreless innings in his third start this year. The right-hander, who had worked 8 2/3 innings combined in his first two starts since returning from a right groin strain, saw his ERA drop from 5.19 to 3.07.

Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich started after missing two games with back problems and went 0 for 4.

There were a number of good defensive plays.

The Rays had runners in the corners with one out in the third when Josh Lowe hit a 3-6-2 in the bottom of the inning.

First baseman Mike Brosseau lined out Lowe’s grounder, watched and held Jose Siri at third before throwing to shortstop Adames for a forced out at second. Siri then headed for the plate but was caught in no man’s land as Adames ran and reached the plate area before throwing the ball to receiver William Contreras, who applied the tag.

Adames was kicked out trying to advance to third from second by Lowe on Brian Anderson’s volley on the right with no outs in the second. Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena was ejected by right fielder Tyrone Taylor at third on Brandon Lowe’s fourth inning single.

Siri had a nice running catch off the center court wall on Taylor’s drive in the fifth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (oblique) had a mound session and is set to make his last minor league appearance on Sunday for Triple-A Durham. … 1B Yandy Díaz (groin, four games) is set to start on Saturday.

FOLLOWING

LHP Brewers Eric Lauer (4-4) will start or follow an opener on Saturday. The Rays will counter with RHP Zach Eflin (5-1).

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