Hech, Johnson homer as Jose wins 6th straight

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ST. PETERSBURG — Jose Fernandez’s struggles in the ballpark he came to as a high schooler are a thing of the past. Fernandez struck out 12 batters and allowed only one run in Miami’s 9-1 win over Tampa Bay on Thursday at Tropicana Field.

The Rays’ offense was stagnant all afternoon. A Brandon Guyer homer to left in the third was the only run that Tampa Bay scored. It was also the team’s only extra-base hit.

Fernandez threw 111 pitches and nine of his 12 strikeouts were swinging. On the day, the Rays struck out 16 times.

Drew Smyly gave the Rays six innings, but he was done in early by a pair of two-out, two-run homers. Adeiny Hechavarria blasted his to left in the second and Chris Johnson connected with one to left in the third.

The Marlins added insurance runs when they started the eighth with five straight hits to open up an an 8-1 lead.

The Rays lead the all-time Citrus Series with the Marlins, 52-51.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDFine Fernandez: The talented right-hander, who attended Braulio Alonso High in Tampa, put on a show to tame the Rays’ bats. Fernandez allowed one run and six hits with 12 strikeouts in seven innings. He struck out six of his last seven batters faced …

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