[Art Deco]

Game 1: The Rays' first game at Coors Field in a decade was just what you'd expect as it seems you can never have enough runs. An 8-4 lead in the 7th turned out to be a nail-biting 8-7 win that proved costly. The cost was Vidal Brujan, who led off the game with a homer (#7) but had to leave in the 5th legging out a triple. He strained his hamstring and will be out 4 weeks, so Nick Gonzales gets another late season starting role. Brujan was having his best season at 343/427/500 and was on pace for a 7.7 WAR season, which would eclipse the 6.7 he put up in 2024. So Gonzales needs to be as good as he was filling in for Wander last season to not have much of a drop-off. Anyway as for the game Tyler Glasnow started and pitched well, although with the altitude taking away his curveball he only had 3 whiffs, still going a respectable 7 8 4 4 1 3 which would have looked nicer had he not given up a leadoff HR in the 8th to former Ray property JJ Bleday. Aaron Ashby came on for Glasnow after that homer and gave up a 2-run shot to JT Realmuto and with Liam Hendriks unavailable, Nick Anderson actually came in and got the final out of the 8th after giving up a hit. Jose Alvarado and his 70 movement were no match for Coors, though, as he gave up a leadoff HR in the 9th, and then a double to Blake Rutherford to put the tying run in scoring position with nobody out. But he recovered to whiff Bleday and Michael Toglia, and then Jasseel De La Cruz came in to face the vet Nolan Arenado and got him on strikes for save #18. Glasnow got the win and goes to 11-2, 2.78. As for the offense, Hunter Bishop took a liking to Coors (the field, not the beer) with a pair of HRs (#12 & 13) and 4 RBI, Brandon Marsh had a 2-run triple and Judson Fabian had an RBI double. Baltimore won so the lead remains 7.

July 21: Placed 2B Vidal Brujan on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain, recalled IF Nick Loftin from AAA Durham.

Loftin and his .800 batting average are back up.

Game 2: More fun and games at Coors Field as the Rays took a 10-1 lead, watched Colorado get within 10-6 and then pulled away for a 15-7 win. Spencer Torkelson paced the offense with a pair of HRs (#26 & 27), a double and 6 RBI, Wander Franco was 4-6 with 2 RBI, Judson Fabian was 3-6 with a double, triple and 2 RBI, Brandon Marsh was 3-5 with a double and 2 RBI and Keibert Ruiz hit #10, a 2-run shot. But the star of the show was Asa Lacy, who went an excellent 6 8 1 0 1 7 on 91 pitches to improve to 7-1, 3.23. He probably should have been kept in for an extra inning as the bullpen had its struggles. With the score 10-1, it seemed safe to bring Nick Anderson in, but he gave up two hits and a walk, and then former Rockie Ben Bowden allowed Anderson's runners to score along with two of his own (his first runs allowed as a Ray) and it was 10-6. Liam Hendriks got them out of the inning but gave up a run of his own in the 8th, and Evan Godwin calmed things down by getting the final out of the 8th and a 1-2-3 9th. Baltimore won so the lead stays at 7.

Game 3: The Rays used some 9th inning comeback magic to sweep the series in Colorado and win 7-4, with the unlikeliest of heroes providing the decisive hit. Down 4-3 entering the 9th inning, the Rays were matched up against their 2021-2022 closer Brad Hand. Hand retired Spencer Torkelson on a line drive to center to start the inning but gave up a double to Hunter Bishop. Keston Hiura grounded out to send Bishop to third, but there were now two out. Hand hit Brandon Marsh with a pitch and then walked Patrick Bailey to load the bases with the pitcher's spot due. And it just so happened the only righty bat on the bench was Nick Loftin, he of the .800 batting average having gone 4-for-5 in his lone MLB appeareance. Well make that the .833-hitting Nick Loftin as he drilled a pinch-single to left, scoring Bishop and Marsh. And then Nick Gonzales stepped up and doubled to the gap to score Bailey and Loftin. Jasseel De La Cruz gave up a hit but got a pair of whiffs for save #19. We got to our situation in the 9th inning off a pretty good pitchers' duel for Coors Field between Matt Manning and Freddy Peralta, with each allowing 3 runs in 7 innings. Spencer Torkelson hit #28, a 2-run shot, in the first, but the only other offense the Rays could muster was Keston Hiura's 5th inning triple, scoring on a Marsh grounder. Manning was excellent, allowing 2 solo HRs but not much else going 7 7 3 3 0 7. With two lefties due to lead off in the 8th, Jose Alvarado got the call and struggled again, giving up a leadoff HR to Blake Rutherford, his 2nd of the game, and he allowed another hit after retiring only one batter as his ERA rises to 5.13. Enter Steven Casey, who struck out Nolan Arenado and Jonathan Vaughns to keep it at 4-3 and thanks to the comeback picked up his first MLB win. Austin Meadows clubbed 2 homers as the Orioles walloped the Yankees 12-1 so they don't pad the lead, but 7 remains plenty healthy.

Team record: 66-28 (now over .700). Next up: a 4-game set in Oakland.