First off, some honors from the league office:
Game 1: The Rays jumped all over Brody Westbrooks and the Jays for 10 runs in the first 3 innings on their way to a 12-6 victory over Toronto for win #90 of the season. They banged out 15 hits with everyone in the lineup getting at least one except Triston Casas, who was on base twice with a walk and a HBP. Austin Meadows was 3-5 with HR #22 and 2 RBI, Keibert Ruiz knocked in two to move to 101, and Nick Gonzales keeps on hitting as he went 2-4 with 3 RBI, two of which came on a triple. Tyler Glasnow was happy to receive all the run support but he started struggling and barely made it through 5 to pick up win #18, going 5 8 6 4 2 7. He'll have 2 more starts and will need to win them both to get to 20. The bullpen was great again, with scoreless innings from Liam Hendriks, Dustin May and 2 from DL Hall. With Baltimore off the magic # drops to 6.
Game 2: If the Rays want to go anywhere in the postseason their starting pitching is going to need to get it together as once again one of their top starters had a poor game, and unlike the last couple of games the offense couldn't overcome it in a 7-1 loss. Mitchell White gave up a pair of 2-run HRs in the 1st inning and another one later for a 5 8 7 5 0 6 outing that saw his ERA rise above 4 much as Tyler Glasnow's has. The only run for the Rays came courtesy of Hunter Bishop's 17th HR of the season off Kevin Abel, who went 7.1 5 1 1 3 6. The 3 walks were all to Vidal Brujan, who ended the night 0-0. Dustin May and Mitch Keller each threw a pair of scoreless innings in relief. Baltimore beat the Yankees so the magic # remains 6.
Game 3: The Rays had their way with the Jays in a 15-2 rout. Shane McClanahan continued on his roll, going 6.2 7 2 2 2 5 to improve to 9-6 and lower his ERA to 3.09, 2nd in the AL to Tarik Skubal's 3.07. Mitchell Verburg pitched the final 2 1/3 scoreless. Spencer Torkelson had the big bat once again, homering in the 2nd to put the Rays up 1-0, and then launching a 3-run shot in an 8-run 4th inning which blew the game open. He's now at 29 HR and 95 RBI and seems a lock to get 30/100. Also homering were Keibert Ruiz (#15 to go with his 103 RBI), Vidal Brujan (#10), and Alec Bohm (#21). Keston Hiura had 3 doubles as the 12 of the Rays' 18 hits tonight went for extra bases. Baltimore defeated the Yankees again so the magic # drops to 5 while the Angels lost to Texas putting the Rays a game up for best record in the AL.
Team record: 91-61. Next up: An off-day followed by 3 games in Baltimore, a series that looked like it would mean everything a few weeks ago but now could be the site of the Rays' division coronation.