Rays beat Mets 3-1 to spoil strong MLB debut by New York's Scott; Cash picks up 755th victory

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pinch hitter Austin Shenton's bases-loaded walk scored a tiebreaking run in the eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Mets 3-1 on Saturday night.

Adam Ottavino (1-1) was on the verge of getting out of a bases-loaded jam with one out in the eighth after shortstop Francisco Lindor made a leaping throw to home for a force-out at the plate on Randy Arozarena's high hopper.

However, Shenton walked to complete a nine-pitch plate appearance before José Caballero drew a free pass from Sean Reid-Foley to make it 3-1.

Jason Adam (2-0) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the eighth before Phil Maton worked the ninth for his first save.

Rays manager Kevin Cash won his 755th game, moving past Joe Maddon for the most wins in team history.

“They were pretty pumped,” Cash said. “We got a bunch of good guys. I am appreciative of all of them and guys from the past. It was a fun day.”

The players celebrated by rolling Cash in a cart and "having everything sprayed all over me that you can imagine," according to the46-year-old manager. “Beer, champagne shaving cream ... think baby powder.”

Mets right-hander Christian Scott sparkled in his major league debut, allowing one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. The Coconut Creek, Florida, native struck out six and walked one.

“It was awesome,” Scott said. “I had a lot of family here. I was super comfortable out there. I really trusted my stuff.”

Scott gave his first strikeout ball to his parents.

After the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Scott will remain in the rotation.

Scott’s first three batters in the first reached on hits, including an RBI single by Isaac Paredes. The 24-year-old avoided further damage by striking out Randy Arozarena on a 3-2, 96-mph fastball, and getting a double-play grounder from Harold Ramírez.

“He kept making pitches, got his ground ball, we turn the double play,” Mendoza said. “And after that, it was lights out.”

Scott retired 12 in a row before Ben Rortvedt had a one-out single in the fifth. He ended the inning and stranded a runner at third on a strikeout of Jose Siri.

Rortvedt singled past Scott on his 94th — and final — pitch with two outs in the seventh. Scott threw 67 strikes, and received a standing ovation from the Mets' fans in attendance when he departed.

The Mets took a 1-0 lead when Brandon Nimmo doubled off Zack Littell's first pitch and scored on Starling Marte’s single.

Littell gave up one run, six hits and struck out seven in six innings. The right-hander had his ERA drop to 3.00 from 3.27.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: Kevin Cash said there will be discussions about RHP Taj Bradley (right pectoral) rejoining the rotation after his strong six-inning outing Friday for Triple-A Durham. Cash doesn’t expect to use a six-man rotation, which means struggling RHP Aaron Civale or LHP Tyler Alexander could be dropped. … RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery) allowed three runs and three hits over three innings for Triple-A Durham in his first start since July 10, 2022.

UP NEXT

Mets RHP Luis Severino (2-2, 2.31 ERA) and Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (3-2, 3.12 ERA) are Sunday’s starters. Severino took a no-hitter into the eighth inning on Monday against the Chicago Cubs.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Mets' Starling Marte (6) steals second base ahead of the throw to Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jose Caballero during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Looking on is umpire Mark Wegner. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Mets relief pitcher Adam Ottavino walks off after being taken out the game against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Richie Palacios (1) and Jose Caballero celebrate after the team defeated the New York Mets during a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott (45) celebrates in the dugout after being taken out of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Scott was making his major league debut. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jose Siri throws his bat after striking out against New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Mets' Brett Baty watches a single off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena makes a running catch on a fly out by New York Mets' Tomas Nido during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott's family celebrates after Scott struck out Tampa Bay Rays' Harold Ramirez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Scott is making his major league debut. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Mets' J.D. Martinez lines a single off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Catching for the Rays is Ben Rortvedt. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell, left, throws out New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo at first base on a ground ball back to the mound during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash watches play during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell delivers to the New York Mets during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo slides into home plate under the tag by Tampa Bay Rays catcher Ben Rortvedt during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 4, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Nimmo scored on an RBI single by Starling Marte. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A 20-minute drive separates the historic Maracana Stadium from the Complexo do Alemao, the biggest complex of favelas in Rio de Janeiro and one of the most impoverished and violent.

One of its residents, 15-year-old soccer player Kaylane Alves dos Santos, hopes her powerful shots and impressive dribbles will allow her to cover that short distance to the stadium in three years to play for Brazil's national team in the final of the 2027 Women's World Cup.

That chance, once remote, became more realistic on Friday when FIFA members voted to make Brazil the first Latin American country to host the Women's World Cup.

Local organizers have suggested that both the opening match and the final are likely to be played at the 78,000-seat Maracana Stadium that staged the final matches of the 1950 and the 2014 men's soccer World Cups.

Teenager dos Santos knows the hurdles for her to ever play for Brazil remain enormous — in 2027 or later. She doesn't have a professional club to play for, she only trains twice a week, and her nutrition is not the best due to limited food choices in the favela.

Most importantly, she often can't leave home to play when police and drug dealers shoot at each other in Complexo do Alemao.

Still, she is excited and hopeful about Brazil hosting the Women's World Cup, resulting in a big boost to her confidence.

“We have a dream (of playing for Brazil in the Women’s World Cup), and if we have that chance it will be the best thing in the world,” dos Santos told The Associated Press this week after a training session in the Complexo do Alemao.

She and about 70 other young women in the Bola de Ouro project train on an artificial grass pitch in a safe region of the 3-square kilometers long (1.15 square mile) community.

If not on the pitch, Dos Santos and her teammates will be happy enough just to attend games of a tournament they could only dream of watching up close until FIFA members voted for Brazil over the Germany-Netherlands-Belgium joint bid. The Women's World Cup was played for the first time in 1991 and will have its 10th edition in 2027.

A five-time champion in men's soccer, more than any other country, Brazil has yet to win its first Women's World Cup trophy. By then, it is unlikely superstar Marta, aged 38, will be in the roster. Dos Santos and thousands of young female footballers who have overcome sexism to take up the sport are keen to get inspiration from the six-time FIFA player of the year award winner and write their own history on home soil.

As many female footballers experience in Brazil, dos Santos and her teenage teammates rarely play without boys on their teams. Until recently, they also had to share the pitch with five-year-old girls, which didn't allow the older players to train as hard as they would like.

“(The Women's World Cup in Brazil) makes us focus even more in trying to get better. We need to be able to play in this,” said 16-year-old Kamilly Alves dos Santos, Kaylane's sister and also a player on the team. “We need to keep training, sharing our things."

Their team, which has already faced academy sides of big local clubs like Botafogo, is trained by two city activists who once tried to become players themselves.

Diogo Chaves, 38, and Webert Machado, 37, work hard to get some of their players to the Women's World Cup in Brazil, but if that's not possible they will be happy by keeping them in school.

Their non-profit group is funded solely by donations.

“At first, basically, the children wanted to eat. But now we have all of this,” said Chaves, adding that the project began three years ago. “We believe they can get to the national team. But our biggest challenge is opportunity. There's little for children from here, not only for the girls.”

Machado said the two coaches “are not here to fool anyone” and do not believe all the young women they train will become professionals.

“What we want from them is for they to be honest people, we all need to have our character,” Machado said. “We want to play and make them become nurses, doctors, firefighters, some profession in the future."

The two dos Santos sisters, as do many of their teammates, believe that reaching the Women's World Cup as Complexo do Alemao residents is possible. Brazil has more than 100 professional women's soccer teams, with other players living in favelas, too.

But it won't be easy.

“Sometimes I have to cancel appointments because of shootings, because there’s barricades on fire,” she said. “Sometimes police tell us to go back home, they say we can’t come down and point their guns to me, to my mother,” said Kamilly.

Her sister hopes the pair will overcome the violence, against the odds.

“I want to earn my living in soccer, fulfill all dreams," Kaylane says. "And I want to leave the Complexo do Alemao. I want to make it happen.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

An overhead view of the pitch where young women take part in a soccer training session run by the Bola de Ouro social program at the Complexo da Alemao favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Agatha smiles during a soccer training session run by the Bola de Ouro social program, at the Complexo da Alemao favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Young women are participating in soccer programs led by community trainers, where they receive both sports and personal development training. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Agatha strikes a ball during a soccer training session run by the Bola de Ouro social program, at the Complexo da Alemao favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Young women are participating in soccer programs led by community trainers, where they receive both sports and personal development training. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Young women ready breakfast for fellow participants as part of a soccer training session run by the Bola de Ouro social program, at the Complexo da Alemao favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Young women are participating in soccer programs led by community trainers, where they receive both sports and personal development training. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Relatives watch a soccer training session for young women run by the Bola de Ouro social program at the Complexo da Alemao favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, May 16, 2024. Young women are participating in soccer programs led by community trainers, where they receive both sports and personal development training. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Young women and their coach Dioguinho bring it in for a team huddle at the start of a soccer training session run by the Bola de Ouro social program, at the Complexo da Alemao favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 16, 2024. Young women are participating in soccer programs led by community trainers, where they receive both sports and personal development training. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)