TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — Jonathan Aranda hit a three-run homer in the third inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Friday night at George Steinbrenner Field.

The Rays took the lead in the third when Aranda homered to left field, scoring Hunter Feduccia and Yandy Díaz. Taylor Walls added an RBI single in the fourth inning to plate Richie Palacios.

Tampa Bay scored five runs on 10 hits, while the Nationals managed six hits. Washington scored single runs in the second and third innings.

Griffin Jax (2-5) earned the win for the Rays, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings. Miles Mikolas (2-6) took the loss for Washington, giving up four runs in 3 2/3 innings. Bryan Baker notched his 19th save with a scoreless ninth.

Junior Caminero and Díaz each had two hits for Tampa Bay. Jonny DeLuca homered for the Rays in the fourth.

Attendance was 17,134. The game lasted 2 hours, 17 minutes.

Washington fell to 39-37; Tampa Bay improved to 42-30.