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    WATCH, Plus 2: Isaac Paredes Hits 3-Run Homer, Then Homers Again To Put Rays Ahead 6-1

    Isaac Paredes had an RBI double in the first inning and then hit a three-run homer in the third to give Tampa Bay a 4-1 lead over Texas. He hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, too. Here are the highlights of both home runs.

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    Tampa Bay Rays
    Tampa Bay Rays

    Updated 8:20 p.m. ET

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay third baseman Isaac Paredes is having himself a night against the Texans Rangers.

    After a run-scoring double in the first inning, he hit a three-run home run over the left  field wall in the bottom of the third inning, giving the Rays a 4-1 lead.

    The homer came off of Texas starter Andrew Heaney. It was his 10th home run of the season. He is sixth Rays player to reach double digits in homers this season.

    Here's the highlight:

    And then the next time up, he homered again in the sixth inning. After Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch, Paredes hit another homer into ''Randy Land'' in the left-field seats.

    Here is the highlight of that home run. He now has 11 on the year. It was his fifth career multi-homer game, and second this season. His six RBIs also set a career high.

    The two teams have the best records in baseball, and they are meeting for the first time this season. Coming into Friday, the Rays have a 6.5-game lead on the second-place Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. Texas is five games ahead of the Houston Astros in the AL West.

    Tampa Bay and Texas will play again on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET and on Sunday at 1:40 p.m. They will play three more games in Texas on July 17-19.

    • FRIDAY GAMEDAY PREVIEW: Tampa Bay and Texas have the two best records in baseball, and they meet for the first time on Friday night in St. Petersburg. The Rays are 29-6 at home, the best record over 35 games since the start of the expansion era in 1961. Here's the preview and starting lineups. CLICK HERE
    • BRANDON LOWE HAS BACK INJURY: Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe was originally put on the injured list this week with "lower back inflammation" but now the report says he has a herniated disc and will be shut down from baseball activities for a few weeks. CLICK HERE

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