Game 1: As has so often been the script this year, the Rays jumped out a big early lead, let the other team come back and then hung on to win and that's what happened in today's 10-5 win over Oakland. The Rays jumped all over A's starter Michel Baez today and had an 8-2 lead after 4 innings. Dane Ayers got things going with a 2-run single, giving him 7 RBI in the last 3 games, Victor de Jesus hit a 2-run HR (#6) in the 3rd, and Ricky Widmar had RBI singles in the 2nd and 4th. They could have had more runs but twice former Ray Jhon Diaz threw men out at the plate and they had two more runners thrown out attempting to steal. But Christian Little couldn't stand prosperity, and he actually struggled throughout his start and ended 5 7 4 4 4 9 with a balk thrown in for good measure. It was enough to improve to 3-1 though. Mike Mooney took over for him in the 6th and wasn't very good, allowing a Little runner to score and one of his own and it turned out the reason he was struggling was because he blew out his elbow and and needs ligament reconstruction surgery, putting him out a calendar year. Tim Siqueiros took over for him and was very good, retiring all 5 men he faced, and Nate Thompson went the final two, loading the bases in the 9th but getting out of it. Jasson Dominguez added a couple of RBI late to give him a 3-5, 3-RBI day. The Mooney injury leaves Jose Alvarado as the only lefty in the bullpen, a vast departure from the days we usually had 4, and there really isn't anyone at Durham who fills the bill so expect a trade very soon. The Yankees won last night while we were idle but lost tonight, so the Rays are now 1/2 game back.
And there it is....
Thankfully we have an excess of prospects to deal from, and we parted with Romo, our big July 2 signing back in 2025 who steadily made his way up the ladder and spent the last couple of seasons at Durham where he's hit well, and deserves to be in the bigs but was behind Omar Rodriguez and Alex Buitrago just in the Durham outfield. And in return we get one of the better lefty relievers in the game, the reigning 2031 NL Reliever of the Year. He led the NL in saves last year with 43, but was moved out of the closer's role by the AI in San Diego for some reason as you can see he's pitched well this year too.
We have placed
Mike Mooney on the 60-day IL with elbow reconstruction surgery.
Game 2: The Rays put another 10 on the board, and this time it was more comfortable in a 10-2 win over Oakland. Nate Clark slugged a 3-run homer (#11) in the 3rd after Dayle Jenkins singled in a run to give the Rays a 4-0 lead in the 3rd, and although Alec Sachais allowed a couple of runs for Oakland to get within 4-2, they broke it open with 6 runs in the 6th, 7th and 8th with a 2-run single from Victor de Jesus and a 2-run double from Bo Angeac the big hits in that stretch. Luis Corpus was 3-4 with a ribbie and Jenkins singled in another as they banged out 14 hits. Sachais was in command throughout, pitching efficiently and going 8 7 2 2 0 6 on 97 pitches to improve to 3-1, 3.48. Chris Hicks pitched a perfect 9th and has retired all 9 men he's faced in 3 appearances. And the news continued to be good as the Yankees lost, meaning the Rays are finally on top in the AL East.
Game 3: It was not the Rays' day as every ball put into play by Oakland seemed to drop for a hit and the bats couldn't do much against Fabian Petrovich as they fell 7-4, a scoreline that flattered them after they picked up three late runs. Jon Soranno started and he had good stuff but was smote by the BABIP gods, going 5.1 10 3 3 0 9. He kept the ball in the park but that wasn't good enough today as he suffered his first loss of the season. Danny Medina ended a string of excellent performances by giving up 2 more runs and Jon Whiteleather wasn't much better, giving up a pair of his own including a homer. Only Chris Hicks, who is now 12 for 12 in retiring batters since being recalled, could be happy with his performance with 2 whiffs in another perfect inning. With it being Sunday, several bench guys got starts including Xavier Edwards, at last making his Rays debut. He reached on an error in the 1st and scored on another one which briefly put the Rays in front and later had an infield single. D'Andre Hodges started and doubled in the 9th when the Rays put the tying run on, only for pinch-hitter Dayle Jenkins to hit into a double play to end the game. Hodges pulled a back muscle and will be out a week but with Angelo Romo just traded and Alex Buitrago getting hurt at Durham, we may just play a man down this week. That 3-run rally saw Jaiden Hardaway and Nate Clark each walk with the bases loaded and Rodolfo Rivas pick up a sac fly, but too little, too late. The only silver lining is that the Yankees lost again so we stay in first.
Team record: 22-13. Next up: North of the border to play the Jays for 3.