Catching Some Rays- 8/28-9/3

The Rays look to finish August on a high note as they've started to get hot at the right time. They have a rare five-game week with two scheduled off days. Their final series of August will complete the Citrus Series as they head to Miami for a two-game series. They'll travel up north to Cleveland to begin 17 games in 17 days with a three-game set against the Guardians. With the race against Baltimore still tight, two series victories would be a big step in getting back to the top of the division. 

Tuesday 8/29

Rays 11, Marlins 2

WP- Aaron Civale (7-3), LP- Sandy Alcantara (6-12)

The Citrus Series kicked off with Miami in control early thanks to Jazz Chisholm Jr. He got the Marlins on the board in the first with an RBI single, and after a Luke Raley sac fly in the second, Chisholm knocked a solo homer in the third to make it a 2-1 Miami lead. After a complete game one-hitter the last time he faced the Rays, Sandy Alcantara was dominating once again through five innings. However, the wheels fell off in the sixth. Isaac Paredes tied the game with an RBI single and Jose Siri doubled home two more to give the Rays a 4-2 lead, kickstarting the offense. They struck for four more runs in the seventh on an RBI single by Harold Ramirez, a two-run homer by Randy Arozarena, and a solo shot by Josh Lowe. Paredes added a three-run homer in the ninth, and Jake Diekman closed it down in the ninth as the Rays picked up another lopsided win. 

Player of the Game- Isaac Paredes (TB) (2-for-5, 2 runs, 1 home run, 4 RBIs)

Wednesday 8/30

Rays 3, Marlins 0 (10)

WP- Shawn Armstrong (1-0), LP- David Robertson (4-6), SV- Pete Fairbanks (18)

The offense was nowhere to be found for nine innings tonight. Both Zach Eflin and Jesus Luzardo were on point with their pitching tonight. Luzardo lasted six innings, allowing one hit and two walks as he struck out eight. Eflin went a little longer, going 6.1 innings of four-hit ball with no walks and four strikeouts. It was a little confusing when he was lifted in the seventh after just 69 pitches because he'd been very efficient to that point. It proved to be a good decision. Colin Poche and Shawn Armstrong got the Rays through nine innings without allowing a run and giving up one walk. The problem was the Rays' offense didn't do anything either. The game would go to extra innings, and that's all it took for the Rays to get on the board. Josh Lowe singled home the game's first run, and Randy Arozarena drove in two more runs a few batters later to make it 3-0. Pete Fairbanks shut down the Marlins with a perfect tenth inning to sweep the series and pick up a game in the division with Baltimore's loss. 

Player of the Game- Randy Arozarena (TB) (1-for-3, 2 RBIs, 1 walk, 1 hit by pitch, 2 stolen bases)

Series Review

• The Rays sweep the Marlins, 2-0
• The Rays outscored the Marlins, 14-2
• Randy Arozarena became the 1st player in franchise history with 3 straight 20+ HR, 20+ SB seasons
• Series MVP- Randy Arozarena (2-for-6, 2 runs, 1 home run, 4 RBIs, 3 walks, 1 hit by pitch, 2 stolen bases)

Friday 9/1

Guardians 3, Rays 2

WP- Eli Morgan (5-2), LP- Tyler Glasnow (7-5), SV- Emmanuel Clase (37)

The Rays couldn't hold a late lead as they dropped the first game of the series in Cleveland. Randy Arozarena and Rene Pinto each hit RBI doubles in the first two innings to put the Rays ahead early. Even after a sac fly from Kole Calhoun in the third inning, the Rays were rolling behind another strong start by Tyler Glasnow. That good feeling held strong until the seventh inning. Cleveland put up two runs on an RBI single by Gabriel Arias and a go-ahead RBI double by Bo Naylor. The Guardians would keep their lead as Emmanuel Clase pitched a perfect ninth inning to secure the victory. 

Player of the Game- Gabriel Arias (CLE) (2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI)

Saturday 9/2

Guardians 7, Rays 6 (11)

WP- Sam Hentges (3-2), LP- Chris Devenski (3-3)

It was another back-and-forth contest between the Rays and Guardians with the Rays failing to hold another late lead. Yandy Diaz got things started with a bang with a solo home to lead off the game. Cleveland's offense took control, pushing across four runs over the first four innings, highlighted by a two-run shot from Gabriel Arias in the fourth. Birthday boy Christian Bethancourt knotted the game with a three-run shot in the fifth, and Jose Siri hit the Rays' third homer of the game in the sixth to put them back ahead. The 5-4 lead stood in the bottom of the ninth as Pete Fairbanks took the mound, but it wasn't a good outing for him. Steven Kwan's RBI single tied the game, sending things to extras. Neither side scored in the tenth inning before Brandon Lowe put the Rays ahead in the eleventh on a sac fly. Newly acquired Chris Devenski made his team debut in the hopes of holding the lead. Ultimately, it would fall apart again, as Jose Tena tied the game, and Kwan hit a walk-off sac fly to win it for the Guardians. 

Player of the Game- Steven Kwan (CLE) (2-for-5, 1 run, 2 RBIs)

Sunday 9/3

Rays 6, Guardians 2

WP- Colin Poche (10-3), LP- Trevor Stephan (6-5), SV- Pete Fairbanks (18)

The Rays finished the series strong, avoiding a sweep by taking the final game. As they've become known to do, they got off to a fast start. Rene Pinto knocked a two-run shot in the top of the third to grab an early lead. Cleveland got one run back in the third on an RBI single by Ramon Laureano, then tied it in the fifth on a Josh Naylor RBI single. That's all Taj Bradley would allow in his return to the big leagues, as he walked five and struck out seven over five innings. The game remained tied at two until the eighth inning when Taylor Walls singled home the go-ahead run. Instead of sitting on their one-run lead, the Rays extended it in the ninth by adding three more. RBI singles by Brandon Lowe and Isaac Paredes and a fielder's choice by Randy Arozarena made it a 6-2 game. The Rays' bullpen was phenomenal in this one, allowing two hits and striking out four over four shutout innings to preserve the win and a winning road trip. 

Player of the Game- Brandon Lowe (TB) (3-for-5, 1 run, 1 stolen base)

Series Review

• The Guardians beat the Rays, 2-1
• The Rays outscored the Guardians, 14-12
• Series MVP- Rene Pinto (3-for-5, 1 run, 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBIs)

Injury Report & Other News

There was a lot of movement for the Rays this week. The Rays signed Chris Devenski after being DFA'd by the Angels. The team placed him on the bereavement list before he was reinstated on Saturday. This came in time for the team to place Jason Adam on the 15-day IL with an oblique strain. 

In positive news, Taylor Walls and Kevin Kelly were both activated from the IL on Friday. 

The Week Ahead

There is no rest of the weary as the Rays head home to begin a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox on Monday. Boston is not out of the Wild Card race yet, and a series victory for them could be huge as they try to make up some ground. Once Boston leaves town, the Seattle Mariners will enter in their place, kicking off a four-game weekend series on Thursday. Seattle has jumped to the top of the AL West, with Houston and Texas right on their heels. 

In the Hunt

Baltimore (85-51, +2.5 games for 1st in the AL East)

Last week- 2-1 vs. CWS & 2-1 vs. ARI. This week- 3 games at Los Angeles (AL) & 3 games at Boston.

Houston (77-61, 6.5 GB for the 1st Wild Card

Last week- 3-0 at BOS & 0-3 vs. NYY. This week- 3 games at Texas & 3 games vs. San Diego. 

Texas (76-60, 6.5 GB for the 1st Wild Card)

Last week- 2-1 at NYM & 1-2 vs. MIN. This week- 3 games vs. Houston & 3 games vs. Oakland.