Rays 4, Mariners 1: Pinch hitter Sean Rodriguez delivered the tiebreaking single in a three-run eighth inning as visiting Tampa Bay defeated Seattle to salvage the finale of the three-game series.

The victory was just the fourth in 15 games for the Rays, who moved two games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians in the race for the American League’s second wild-card spot. Tampa Bay is 7 1/2 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

Mariners reliever Yoervis Medina (4-5) hit Evan Longoria with a pitch to start the eighth and walked Luke Scott before James Loney stroked a tying double into the right-field corner. Oliver Perez entered and Rodriguez - batting for Matt Joyce - laced a single to center to plate one run, and another scored when Seattle center fielder Abraham Almonte muffed the ball.

Desmond Jennings added an RBI double in the ninth for the Rays. Jake McGee (4-3) recorded the final two outs in the seventh, Joel Peralta worked out of an eighth-inning jam and Fernando Rodney struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 33rd save in 41 opportunities.

Kendrys Morales hit a leadoff homer in the second off Tampa Bay left-hander Matt Moore, and the lead held up until the eighth. Moore allowed one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings and Mariners starter Erasmo Ramirez gave up four hits in six-plus scoreless innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Tampa Bay went 3-7 on a 10-game West Coast swing that included series with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels. … Mariners 2B Nick Franklin struck out as a pinch hitter to end the game. He was held out of the starting lineup one day after getting kneed in the back of his head in a collision with 1B Justin Smoak. … Loney went 3-for-4 with a walk for his fourth multi-hit performance in nine games.