ATLANTA — Victor Mesa Jr. had two hits, including a home run, Griffin Jax gave up only two hits and one run in five innings pitched, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night at Truist Park, 7-2, to clinch a series win with the finale still ahead in the three-game set between MLB division leaders.
The Rays, who have outscored the Braves 14-3 in the series so far, have won four of their past five games overall to improve to 87-58. Tampa Bay’s lead in the American League East is four games over the second-place New York Yankees, but the Rays have a magic number of four to clinch their first postseason berth since 2023.
The Braves have lost four of their past five games to fall to 85-61, shrinking their lead in the National League East to three games over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies.
Tampa Bay connected on four homers in Tuesday night’s win. Mesa’s homer was the Rays’ only extra-base hit Wednesday night, but the visitors outhit Atlanta 10-3 and helped themselves on the basepaths with a trio of steals. Jorge Mateo had a two-run single in a three-run second inning.
Drake Baldwin’s homer in the fourth was the only run allowed by Jax (7-10).