David Price allows 1 run over 6 1-3 innings as Rays’ complete 3-game sweep over Florida

Price allows 1 run over 6 1-3 innings of Rays’ win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — David Price allowed one run over 6 1-3 innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Florida Marlins 5-2 to complete a three-game sweep on Sunday.

Price (2-2) gave up two hits, five walks and had four strikeouts. The first overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft was coming off a pair of losses in which the left-hander was touched for 15 runs and 17 hits in 11 1-3 innings.

B.J. Upton homered for the Rays, who have won five in a row. Tropicana Field is the only park in the majors where at least one homer has been hit in every game (39) played this season.

The Marlins got a run-scoring single from Hanley Ramirez. Andrew Miller (2-4) gave up five runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Jason Bartlett hit an RBI double and Gabe Kapler had a run-scoring grounder to put Tampa Bay up 2-0 in the second. Bartlett has driven in 22 runs over his last 21 games, while Kapler has 12 RBIs during interleague play.

Florida got within 2-1 in the third when Ramirez completed a 12-pitch, two-out at-bat with an RBI single. He has 24 RBIs in 18 interleague games.

Upton put the Rays back up by two, at 3-1, on a first-pitch leadoff homer in the bottom of the third.

Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist had RBI singles in the seventh to make it 5-1.

J.P. Howell, the third Tampa Bay reliever, struggled with his control, but got the final two outs for his fifth save.

Howell replaced Chad Bradford with two on and one out in the ninth. After hitting Cody Ross and walking pinch hitter Wes Helms to force in a run that cut the Rays’ advantage to 5-2, the left-hander then struck out Ronny Paulino and Ross Gload.

NOTES: Tampa Bay is scheduled to face Toronto ace Roy Halladay (10-1) Monday night. The right-hander (groin) is set to be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list to make the start. “I’m looking forward to that like a root canal,” a smiling Rays manager Jor Maddon said. … Marlins RHP Leo Nunez, slowed by a strained right ankle, reported no problems one day after throwing an inning on Saturday night. … SS Kenny Diekroeger, taken 78th overall by Tampa Bay in this year’s amateur draft, took grounders before the game. The 18-year old hasn’t decided if he will sign with the Rays or attend Stanford University.