Yoshitomo Tsutsugo hit a two-run single during a five-run third inning by the Tampa Bay Rays, helping the team secure a 5-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, their fourth straight.
In the team's fifth game of the coronavirus-delayed season, Tsutsugo, who batted cleanup, lined a bases-loaded single off Kyle Wright (0-1) after the Rays drew three walks in the third inning at an empty Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Jose Martinez and Joey Wendle then each added a run-scoring single, with Tsutsugo coming around to score the fourth run. Tampa Bay went up 5-1 when Martinez scored on a wild pitch by Josh Tomlin.
"We've been winning and it's been so fulfilling," said Tsutsugo, who homered in his MLB debut on Friday.
"They're all pitchers I've never faced before so I just have to stand at the plate and rely on past experience," he said.
Tsutsugo went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for his first multi-hit game in the majors. The 28-year-old Japanese slugger signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Rays in December via the posting system.
In Anaheim, California, Shohei Ohtani got his first extra-base hit of the season when he doubled in the Los Angeles Angels' 10-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Ohtani connected off Mariners reliever Zac Grotz in the sixth to drive in the team's eighth run for his first RBI of the season. He went 1-for-5 with a pair of groundouts, a fly out and strikeout in his other at-bats.
Related coverage:
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani goes hitless 1 day after horror 2020 pitching debut
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani fails to record single out in 1st start since 2018
Baseball: Cubs' Yu Darvish tagged with loss in 1st start of season
