Game 1: Brendan McKay started off rolling, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out 4. Then he couldn't get anyone out and a 2-0 Rays lead became a 9-2 deficit by the time the middle of the third rolled around. Now if you've been following this team all season you won't be surprised the Rays came back and made a game of it, but unfortunately they fell just short at 10-9 for their first 4-game losing streak of the season. They had a couple of good chances to tie or win - in the eighth they got the first two on but couldn't get them around, and then Tigers closer Joe Jimenez walked two with two out but Abraham Toro flew to right. McKay's line ended an abysmal 2.1 3 8 8 5 4 as Clarke Schmidt allowed the last couple of his runners to score but settled down to go 3 2/3 allowing only one run. Unfortunately it turned out to be the decisive 10th run but it was unearned due to a Wander error. Wander's new slump continues on as well as he was 0-4. But Brandon Marsh stayed boiling lava hot, going 3-5 with a HR and 4 RBI while Vidal Brujan was 3-5 with a HR and 3 RBI although he was caught stealing for the 10th time. Somehow they scored 9 runs despite the Franco/Ruiz/Cruz/Kepler 2-5 spots going a combined 0-17. Toronto finally gained ground, but that was because they were idle so the lead is 8 1/2.
Game 2: The painful losses continue, with this one another game the Rays were one out away from winning and ultimately lost. It was an unlikely pitcher's duel between Max Fried and Zac Godley for 6 innings (the Godley part was unlikely) until Detroit broke through for 2 runs in the top of the 7th off Fried, who ended with a still-good 7 6 2 2 2 6 line. But the Rays answered right back in the bottom of the frame on a solo shot by Kepler into the rays tank and then a 2-run shot from you know who, Mr. Marsh. The Rays took the 3-2 lead into the 9th after Nick Anderson had a 1-2-3 8th and with Brad Hand still tired from his long outing Sunday, Jose Alvarado came on for the save. Alvarado, who has been almost untouchable this year, gave up a 1-out double to Kennys Vargas and after getting the second out, yielded a game-tying single to Cesar Puello. On to extras we went, and in the top of the 10th Will Harris served up a 2-out HR to Daz Cameron to make it 4-3. But in the bottom of the 10th, the Rays rallied with Whit Merrifield driving in the tying run. With only Yonny left in the pen, Harris came out for the 11th, immediately got into trouble with runners at 2nd and 3rd and 1 out, and Yonny came in and allowed Jakson Reetz an RBI single to make it 5-4. Marsh got on with a walk in the bottom of the 11th, but the slumping Kiermaier hit into a double play to end the game and cap an 0-5 day, and the losing streak now stands at 5. But behind a big game from our old buddy Willy Adames, Atlanta beat Toronto, who seems determined not to get back in the race as we still sit with an 8 1/2 game lead.
Game 3: The Rays snapped their losing streak in emphatic fashion with a 11-4 drubbing of the Tigers and the star of the game was Ronaldo Hernandez, whom I keep waiting for to regress but doesn't. All he did today was hit a bases-clearing triple to give the Rays a 6-3 third inning lead that put them in front to stay, and then followed that with a pair of HRs on his way to a 6-RBI game. His triple slash numbers are now 358/419/758 with 11 HR and 27 RBI and maybe he isn't regressing because he only has 95 ABs and plays every third or fourth day. Regression is still going to happen but I'm enjoying the ride. Also regression hasn't caught up with Brandon Marsh either, as he hit yet another HR to tie the game at 3 after Tyler Glasnow gave up a 3-run HR in the 3rd to Willie Calhoun. That was all Glasnow allowed as he went 7 4 3 3 4 7 for his 4th win of the season. Max Kepler homered again as well, a 2-run shot in the 1st to put the Rays on top early as part of a 3-hit, 3-RBI day for him. 2021 2nd overall pick Kumar Rocker made his MLB debut in relief for Detroit and showed good (4 Ks in 1 1/3 IP) and bad (2 hits, 2 walks and 2 runs, one earned). Speaking of high draft picks, #1 overall 2020 pick Austin Martin has been up for about a month and was on base 3 of 4 times today for the Tigers with 1 hit and 2 walks and is 277/312/465 so far. Toronto snapped their own 5-game losing streak today, so the lead still sits at 8 1/2.
Team record: 59-33.
Bonus graphic: Brandon Marsh's game log over the past 10 games (18-48, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 4 SB, 4 BB)
Also, speaking of football scores showing up this year (from today):
And finally, those same Nats just DFA'd Zack Greinke after he put up a 6.82 ERA in 34 innings for them as well. Sad to say, it looks like his career could be done.