ST. PETERSBURG — Sometimes, a reputation is all you need.
The Mariners tried to play the percentages when they intentionally walked pinch-hitter Ji-Man Choi to load the bases with no outs in the ninth inning Wednesday, then employed a five-man infield with just two outfielders to try cut the potential winning run down at the plate.
The problem: The next hitter was Tommy Pham.
No one on the Rays has more walks than Pham, which means Seattle pitcher Matt Magill needed to throw strikes with the bases loaded.
Pham took the first two pitches, then fouled off the third to fall behind in the count 1-2.