Lowe put his Rays up early with a two-run shot in the top of the first inning and they’d never give that lead back. With that blast coming off Nationals starter Mitchell Parker, it was only Lowe’s fifth all season against a left-handed pitcher versus 23 against righties. He’s cruising towards another solid yet unspectacular season with 27 home runs and an .810 OPS.

Yandy Díaz had just tied the game by singling in Tristain Gray. The Rays totaled six hits, all of them singles, in the contest, but since three of them came consecutively, it was enough to pull one out tonight. Lowe is batting .288 with five homers in 17 games sincee coming off the injured list last month.

The 31-year-old second baseman swatted a 428-foot (105.7 mph EV) on the first pitch that he saw from Osvaldo Bido in the seventh inning, increasing the Rays’ lead to 5-1. He then tacked on a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to provide a valuable insurance run. Lowe was also cut down attempting to steal home to end the third inning. He’s having a terrific season in the middle of the Rays’ lineup, slashing .273/.321/.495 with 23 long balls, 57 RBI and three stolen bases in 396 plate appearances.