In the End, It Works Out for Devil Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —  A canceled flight kept Ty Wigginton out of the starting lineup. His arrival about 45 minutes before game time proved pivotal for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Wigginton’s game-winning pinch-hit single with two out in the ninth inning gave the Devil Rays a 2-1 victory over Seattle on Friday night and handed the Mariners their 12th straight road loss.

“It worked out all right,” Wigginton said. “The first swing in two days and it came through for me.”

Dioner Navarro drew a two-out walk in the ninth against George Sherrill (2-3). Navarro went to third on Jorge Cantu’s double against reliever Jon Huber.

Wigginton, who came off the 15-day disabled list before the game after sitting out a month because of a broken bone in his left hand, singled to left against Eric O’Flaherty.

Wigginton had been on a rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Durham, and spent more than five hours Friday at a North Carolina airport waiting for a flight.

“We got Wiggy on an airplane just in time,” Tampa Bay Manager Joe Maddon said.

The Mariners’ team record for consecutive road losses is 15, set June 22-July 28, 2004. Seattle won seven of nine during a just-completed homestand after an 0-11 trip.

“We just couldn’t generate any offense,” Seattle Manager Mike Hargrove said. “We certainly pitched well enough to win.”