For a good part of the last month, the Rays have been waiting for a clutch big hit late in a game to spark them to a win.
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They finally got that on Sunday.
Jonny DeLuca hit a two-run homer with one out in the seventh inning, as the Rays rallied for a 4-3 win and a series victory over a spunky Nationals team.
The Rays were down 3-1 midway through the sixth, then cut the margin to one on a one-out homer by Ryan Vilade.
Yandy Diaz — whose son, Yandy Jr., had first-pitch duties as part of the team’s vast Father’s Day activities — set up DeLuca’s key blast with a one-out single in the seventh off Orlando Ribalta.
That brought up DeLuca, who also homered Friday in his return from the injured list. He had been sidelined by a right hamstring strain since late May, coinciding with the Rays’ majors-worst-matching 8-16 run.
DeLuca jumped on a 1-1 slider and knocked it over the leftfield fence to give the Rays a 4-3 lead.
Bryan Baker, the usual closer, worked the eighth, and Kevin Kelly handled the ninth.
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With the win, the Rays moved to 43-31 overall and improved their majors-best home record to 25-11.
Starter Nick Martinez didn’t do much wrong over his six innings, allowing three runs.
The Nationals grabbed an early lead , scratching out a run in the third. Jose Tena drew a leadoff walk, stole second, went to third on a single and scored on a sac fly by leadoff hitter James Wood.
The Rays quickly got even.
Taylor Walls doubled off lefty starter Andrew Alvarez with two outs in the home third, and scored when Diaz followed with a double.
The Nationals came right back and reclaimed the lead.
CJ Abrams led off with a double, went to third on a lineout and scored on a two-out double by Dylan Crews. They extended the lead to 3-1 in the sixth when Abrams homered with one out.
Martinez worked six innings, allowed three runs — his fourth straight start giving up at least three after going 11 straight with no more than two — plus four hits and three walks, while striking out five.
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