Catching Some Rays- 7/17-7/23

This week feels like a make-or-break week for the Rays. With the Orioles closing in and a weekend clash between the two teams scheduled, this could be one of the most important weeks of the season. Before closing with Baltimore, the Rays start the week in Texas, facing the Rangers in another high-profile series. 

Monday 7/17
Rangers 3, Rays 2
WP- Aroldis Chapman (5-2), LP- Pete Fairbanks (0-3)

Things really felt like they were going well early for the Rays. A sac fly in the first inning and a solo home run by Josh Lowe in the second inning staked the Rays to a 2-0 lead. Shane McClanahan was also pitching well, throwing five shutout innings, keeping the Rangers' bats quiet. All of that changed with one swing of the bat. Ezequiel Duran smacked a two-run shot off McClanahan to tie things up and deflated the good feeling. The game sat tied 2-2 until the bottom of the ninth. Josh Jung doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third a few batters later. With two out, Pete Fairbanks' pitch got away from the catcher as Jung crossed home plate to win the game and steal the first game of the series. 
Player of the Game- Ezequiel Duran (TEX) (1-for-3, 1 run, 1 home run, 2 RBIs)

Tuesday 7/18
Rangers 5, Rays 3
WP- Nathan Eovaldi (11-3), LP- Taj Bradley (5-6), SV- Will Smith (17)

It was another low-scoring start with Nathan Eovaldi and Taj Bradley dueling early. Marcus Semien hit a solo home run to open the scoring in the third inning and Travis Jankowski doubled home another run in the sixth, putting the Rangers up 2-0. Meanwhile, Eovaldi was spectacular, pitching six shutout innings. Francisco Mejia broke the shutout in the seventh with an RBI double, giving the Rays a little bit of hope. All hope vanished in the bottom of the seventh when Corey Seager hit a three-run home run to break things open. The Rays tried to stumble their way back into the game with Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe each hitting a solo home run in the eighth, but it wouldn't be enough as the Rangers won the game and the series. 
Player of the Game- Marcus Semien (TEX) (3-for-4, 2 runs, 1 home run, 1 RBI)

Wednesday 7/19
Rangers 5, Rays 1
WP- Brock Burke (4-2), LP- Zach Littell (0-2)

The script for the final game of the series was very similar to the night before. Leodys Tavares controlled the offense early, hitting a solo home in the third inning and an RBI single in the seventh as the Rangers' pitchers kept the Rays' bats quiet again. Just like on Tuesday, a three-run home run late in the game put the Rays away, this time with Jonah Heim providing the firepower. Jose Siri ensured the Rays wouldn't be shut out, hitting his team-leading 19th home run as the Rangers completed the sweep of the Rays. 
Player of the Game- Leody Tavares (TEX) (2-for-4, 1 run, 1 home run, 2 RBIs)

Series Review
  • The Rangers sweep the series, 3-0
  • The Rangers outscored the Rays, 13-6
  • The Rays and the Orioles are now in a virtual tie after the sweep
  • Series MVP- Josh Lowe (3-for-8, 2 runs, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 1 stolen base)
Thursday 7/20
Orioles 4, Rays 3 (10)
WP- Felix Bautista (5-2), LP- Robert Stephenson (1-4)

The battle for the AL East came to Tropicana Field as the Rays and the Orioles squared off for the division lead. Francisco Mejia kept driving in runs, opening the scoring with an RBI single in the first. Baltimore struck back for three runs in the fourth inning, putting the Rays behind once again. This 3-1 deficit held until the bottom of the seventh inning when Yandy Diaz tied things up with a two-run double to get the home fans jumping. Neither team found the go-ahead run after nine innings, sending things to extras. Colton Cowser hit a sac fly in the top of the tenth inning and the Rays were unable to find a response as the Orioles took the first game, putting themselves a game ahead for first in the division. 
Player of the Game- Felix Bautista (BAL) (2.0 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts)

Friday 7/21
Rays 3, Orioles 0
WP- Zach Eflin (11-5), LP- Kyle Bradish (6-5), SV- Pete Fairbanks (11)

It felt like things finally were back in the Rays' favor in the second game of the set. All of the chips seemed to fall into place as they evened things up in the division once again. An RBI single by Harold Ramirez in the third inning would be enough for the Rays tonight with the way Zach Eflin was pitching. Eflin put together one of his best starts of the season, pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing only three baserunners. Isaac Paredes and Jose Siri each added some late fireworks with solo home runs as the Rays completely shut down the Orioles for a 3-0 victory. 
Player of the Game- Zach Eflin (TB) (7.0 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts)

Saturday 7/22
Orioles 6, Rays 5
WP- Cionel Perez (3-1), LP- Pete Fairbanks (0-4), SV- Felix Bautista (27)

I'm not sure I've ever felt so excited about a comeback only to have the excitement disappear in a matter of minutes. Baltimore carried a 5-0 lead into the sixth inning after getting Shane McClanahan for five runs in the fourth. Slowly, they started to crawl their way back into the game. Wander Franco singled home two runs in the sixth. Isaac Paredes singled home another in the seventh. An RBI groundout by Franco and an RBI single from Randy Arozarena would tie things up in the eighth, with the Rays needing three outs to try and win it in the ninth. Unfortunately, that wouldn't happen. A pinch-hit RBI single by Ryan O'Hearn would put the Orioles ahead in the ninth and Felix Bautista would close it out to go back up one game in the division. 
Player of the Game- Ryan O'Hearn (BAL) (Go-ahead RBI single in the 9th)

Sunday 7/23
Orioles 5, Rays 3
WP- Mike Baumann (7-0), LP- Colin Poche (7-3), SV- Felix Bautista (28)

It might be time to acknowledge that the Orioles are here to stay, winning the final game to take the series. An RBI double by Adley Rutschman in the first and a two-run home run in the second by Gunnar Henderson got Baltimore ahead early. The Rays clawed back again, A fielder's choice and a two-run home run by Yandy Diaz tied the game in the fifth inning as we all started to get back some hope. Once again, the rug was pulled out from under us. Ryan O'Hearn hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and Anthony Santander singled home another run as the Orioles closed out the series. 
Player of the Game- Gunnar Henderson (BAL) (2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 home run, 2 RBIs, 1 walk)

Series Review
  • The Orioles beat the Rays, 3-1
  • The Orioles outscored the Rays 15-14
  • Series MVP- Yandy Diaz (4-for-16, 1 run, 1 double, 1 home run, 4 RBIs, 2 walks)
Injury Report & Other News
To add to the tough week on the field, it wasn't an easy one off the field either. Both Yonny Chirinos and Javy Guerra were DFA'd this week. Francisco Mejia (knee) and Taylor Walls (oblique) also both landed on the 10-day IL. 

The Week Ahead
The Rays are set to have a much lighter week this week, which feels much needed at this point. After an off day on Monday, the Rays will welcome the Miami Marlins to town for a short two-game set. They have another day off on Thursday to travel to Houston. Their weekend series will be a three-game clash with the Houston Astros. Words aren't able to articulate just how important this week is going to be for the Rays after such a bad week. 

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