MIAMI — Tyler Glasnow gave the Rays the strong start they were definitely expecting. Then Austin Meadows gave them the big hit they absolutely needed.
Meadows’ homer with two outs in the eighth was the difference Thursday as the Rays opened the season with a 1-0 win over the Marlins.
Glasnow delivered a dazzling six-inning start, allowing only one hit. And a first-inning infield single at that, on a ball Yandy Diaz fielded behind third but pumped before throwing late to first.
Glasnow otherwise was as dominating as the Rays could have hoped, making liberal and effective use of his new slider, striking out six and walking none, throwing 57 of 76 pitches for strikes.
The problem is the Rays didn’t do anything to help him in the limited opportunities they had against Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara over his equally six strong innings.
In the first, they loaded the bases with two outs in the first — Randy Arozarena singling, Brandon Lowe walking and Diaz getting hit by a pitch — but Kevin Kiermaier struck out.
In the fourth, Lowe led off with a double, but Diaz flied out, then Kiermaier and Willy Adames struck out.
Meadows had a miserable 2020 season, sidelined by COVID-19 at the start, then an oblique strain in September, and played poorly when he was healthy. He came into camp in great shape, and the Rays are banking heavily on him returning to his 2019 All-Star and team co-MVP form.
After driving the Yimi Garcia pitch over the right-center field fence, he looked at and pointed into the Rays dugout, and was greeted warmly after circling the bases.
Following Glasnow’s outing, the Rays turned to their bullpen, which is missing highest-leverage reliever Nick Anderson, likely out until August with an elbow injury.
Ryan Thompson worked the seventh, allowing one hit. Pete Fairbanks had the eighth. working around a one-out infield single and a stolen base by catcher Jorge Alfaro, then a two-out walk.
In the top of the ninth, the Rays loaded the bases but couldn’t add to the their lead. Diego Castillo got the final three outs in succession for Tampa Bay.
The Marlins, using about 27% capacity of loanDepot Park, had 7,062 in attendance.