The Tampa Bay Rays came back from an early one-run deficit to beat the New York Mets 6-2 on Tuesday, September 1 at Tropicana Field. Freddy Peralta delivered six dominant innings — seven strikeouts, one earned run, zero walks — while the Rays offense sent 11 hits against starter Sean Manaea in 5.2 innings. Victor Mesa Jr. led the hit parade with a 3-for-4 night, and contributions from across the lineup added up to a convincing, four-run final margin.

Freddy Peralta Controls the Game for Six Innings

Peralta was the story on the mound. The right-hander allowed just three hits and walked nobody while punching out seven Mets over six innings, finishing with one earned run against him — a solo home run by Francisco Lindor that also plated a second run. That was essentially all the damage New York could manage. Peralta earned the win, and the outing stands on its own merits: efficient, clean, and exactly what a rotation starter needs to deliver in early September.

The bullpen ran into trouble in the seventh. Garrett Cleavinger issued three walks in one-third of an inning and allowed an earned run, turning a clean handoff into a brief squeeze. Tyler Wells stepped in and got through 1.2 innings without a hit or an earned run, steadying things. Kevin Kelly closed it out with a perfect ninth — two strikeouts, no baserunners.

Rays Offense Piles Up 11 Hits Against Manaea

Sean Manaea had no answer for the Rays lineup on Tuesday night. Tampa Bay sent 11 hits against him over 5.2 innings, and five separate hitters recorded multi-hit games or drove in runs across the box score.

  • Victor Mesa Jr.: 3-for-4, no RBI — set the table all night
  • Ryan Vilade: 2-for-5, 2 RBI — provided the run production the middle of the order needed
  • Yandy Díaz: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI — the home run gave Tampa Bay a boost
  • Junior Caminero: 2-for-5, 1 RBI — consistent presence in the lineup
  • Nick Fortes: 2-for-4, 1 RBI — contributed behind the plate and at it

Vilade's two-RBI performance was the single biggest production line of the night for the Rays. Mesa's three hits without an RBI reflect a different kind of value — he was on base and forcing pitchers to work all night. The lineup did not need a big inning; it built the lead methodically against a pitcher who simply could not get Tampa Bay out.

Turning Point: Overcoming the Early Deficit

The Rays entered this game facing a one-run deficit at some point — the metadata confirms a comeback with a deficit overcome of one. Lindor's home run off Peralta was the only real threat New York mounted, and the Rays answered by chasing Manaea and building a lead that eventually reached four runs. Once Tampa Bay got in front, the outcome was rarely in doubt based on the final margin, though Cleavinger's seventh-inning stumble kept the bullpen from cruising.

Mets Offense Limited to Lindor's Home Run

Francisco Lindor was the only Mets hitter who registered in the box score highlights — 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. That accounted for both New York runs. The rest of the lineup was held in check by Peralta and then by Wells and Kelly. A two-run final against a starting pitcher who walked nobody is a difficult night at the plate for any offense.

What's Next for the Rays

Tampa Bay picked up a clean regular-season win on September 1 with a performance that held up on both sides of the ball. The starting pitcher went six, the offense produced 11 hits against a major-league starter, and the bullpen — despite Cleavinger's rough third — got the final five outs without further damage. The Rays will look to carry that momentum forward as the 2026 regular season continues.