Rays’ Pride Night sold out to support Orlando nightclub victims

The 26-year-old from Venezuela never made it past Double-A in seven seasons with the Rays.

Jim Bonner, center, comforts his daughters Lucy, left, and Ella, right, as the victims of the fatal shooting at the Pulse Orlando night club are remembered before a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the San Francisco Giants, Friday, June 17, 2016, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Tropicana Field hasn’t had 40,000 people for a game since the 2010 postseason, and hasn’t had 40,000-plus in the regular season after 2004 Opening Day.

Overall, he allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, throwing first-pitch strikes to 16-of-27 batters faced with 68 of his 108 total pitches ending up as strikes (49 swings, 19 called, 13 swings-and-misses). “It was about honoring those who were taken from us too early in a awful scenario that nobody can really put in words”.

Visiting teams often anticipate sparse crowds at Tropicana Field, but it will be a much different atmosphere when the Giants begin their three-game series here.

Brandon Belt hit a two-out home run in the seventh inning to score San Francisco’s fifth and final run of the game.

Tropicana Field was filled with more fans than normal because the tarps in the upper deck were removed to accommodate those who took advantage of the $5 tickets as part of the Pride Night tribute to the victims of the Orlando mass shooting. This fund is aimed at helping victims of the mass shooting that took place at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando on June 12. “I’m glad we were able to have that great of a crowd and the proceeds go to such a great cause”. All proceeds from sales as well as the team’s 50/50 raffle will be donated to the Pulse Victims Fund. The Rays, who have dropped two straight after winning nine of its previous 11 contests, were shut out for 8 2/3 innings Friday before Brad Miller’s solo homer. 1B Brandon Belt hit a single with two outs and C Buster Posey followed with a double. Gregor Blanco, hitting ninth in the lineup, ripped a two-run single for a 4-0 lead.

Samardzija (8-4) made an adjustment to slow down his tempo and got the best of a stuff-heavy matchup with Archer, whose numbers (4-8, 4.61 ERA) belie his stature as one of the game’s brightest young pitchers. RHP Steve Geltz was recalled from Triple-A Durham.

The Giants placed closer Santiago Casilla on the paternity list while he and his wife await the birth of a girl. Longtime Tampa Bay framhand Albert Suarez will try to keep things rolling for San Francisco as he gets the start with a well-rested bullpen after Jeff Samardzija’s complete game Friday, and will oppose left-hander Matt Moore.