Chris Archer sharp, Rays edge Marlins to even series
MIAMI (AP) -- Chris Archer committed a throwing error that allowed his first batter to reach on opening day. In his second outing, he delivered mostly strikes.
Archer needed just 84 pitches to complete seven sparkling innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Miami Marlins 2-0 on Saturday.
Archer (1-1) allowed one hit and one walk, with the latter runner erased trying to steal. He had command of his fastball, which was still hitting 98 mph in the seventh inning, and kept the Marlins off balance with sliders and changeups.
"Everything felt great," Archer said. "When you're locating your fastball, it makes your secondary stuff twice as good."
And the right-hander's fielding was improved: He had an assist in each of the first four innings. Archer's lengthy outing gave the Rays bullpen a much-needed break following a 10-9, 10-inning loss Friday.
"He threw all of his pitches for strikes and attacked the zone," said catcher Bobby Wilson, who made his first start of the season. "When he's pitching like that, it's a lot of fun."
Two relievers completed a two-hitter, with Brad Boxberger pitching the ninth for his second save in two chances. Boxberger struck out Giancarlo Stanton looking on a 3-2 fastball with a runner on to end the game.
"I didn't do what I should have," Stanton said.
Pinch-hitter Tim Beckham hit his first career homer leading off the seventh. Evan Longoria doubled home the other run.
"I happened to get one on the barrel, the first ball I've hit hard this season, and it felt good," Beckham said.
The Marlins scored 10 runs in their lone victory Friday and have totaled three runs in their other four games. Adeiny Hechavarria is batting .056, Jarrod Saltalamacchia is at .077, Martin Prado is batting .167 and Stanton is at .200.
"It's not an ideal start," Stanton said.
Archer retired his first 10 batters before Christian Yelich doubled, and the right-hander escaped by retiring Stanton and Michael Morse. Pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki walked in the sixth but was caught stealing.
Marcell Ozuna singled in the eighth for Miami's other hit.
Jarred Cosart (0-1), making his first start of the season, lost despite allowing only one run in six innings.
The Rays won with six hits. They jumped in front in the sixth when Asdrubal Cabrera tripled off Cosart with two out and came home on Longoria's double.
"I was just trying to find an open space of grass and push a run across," Longoria said. "The way Arch was throwing the ball, you got the feeling early that a run or two could make the difference."
The Rays ended a streak of five consecutive losses to Miami.
RAYS RECORD
Longoria's double gave him 425 career extra-base hits, surpassing Carl Crawford's team record of 424.
"It's pretty cool," Longoria said. "I plan on being here for a long time. I figure if I keep doing my job, the records are attainable."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (shoulder) will make another rehab start Tuesday for Class-A Charlotte. He pitched two scoreless innings and threw 23 pitches in his first rehab start Thursday. ... RHP Ronald Belisario (shoulder) will pitch in an extended spring training game Monday.
UP NEXT
Marlins RHP Henderson Alvarez is scheduled to start the final game of the series Sunday against RHP Nathan Karns. Alvarez allowed only two runs in seven innings on opening day against Atlanta but took the loss. Karns allowed six runs in 5 2-3 innings in his first start Tuesday against Baltimore.
