[Art Deco]

Game 1: The Rays couldn't solve Ismael Restrepo, a guy who had a 5.30 ERA in AAA last year in 154 IP, and wasted a brilliant performance from Jon Soranno in a 12-inning 2-1 loss in Seattle. Restrepo went 7 3 1 1 3 7 as the Rays had their full-strength lineup back together with only Bo Angeac's first MLB homer in the 5th getting them on the scoreboard. Soranno meanwhile was mowing down Mariners left and right with his only blemish a homer from (of course) Adley Rutschman as he ended 6.2 5 1 1 1 12, with the 12 whiffs a career high. Nate Thompson, Jordan Diaz and Jose Alvarado pitched the next 4 1/3 scoreless, but Tim Siqueiros couldn't get anyone out in the 12th, loading the bases on a double, an infield hit and a walk without retiring anyone. Mike Mooney was summoned with the impossible task of getting them out of that jam and gave up a bloop single to Jared Kelenic to end the game. The bats only managed 7 hits through 12 innings, with only Jasson Dominguez getting more than one. A Yankees win puts them 2 back in the division.

Game 2: The Rays were up 5-2 going into the bottom of the 9th. Jordan Diaz came on for the save and struck out the first two batters. He gave up a homer, no big deal, still 5-3. Then he walked the next three. Then he gave up a 2-run single to tie the game, and was finally pulled for Mike Mooney. Mooney got a popup to end the inning, and thankfully for the Rays Ricky Widmar led off the 10th with his 4th homer and Jasson Dominguez later singled in a run and the Rays still ended up winning 7-5 in 10. But man, Diaz has become unreliable as he's now blown as many saves (3) as he's notched. With Jose Alvarado's stuff diminishing, the back end of the bullpen is suddenly a major question mark, never a good thing. Anyway as for the game at least Andy Aparicio bounced back, although it looked like more of the same of his recent struggles early when he gave up 2 runs in the 2nd. But he rolled from there and ended up 6 5 2 2 2 10 and should have had a win if not for Diaz. Danny Medina, once the 13th man on the staff, came in and looked so good in his first inning that he got a second, both of which were 1-2-3 with a whiff. Maybe he should be the closer. Mooney stayed on for the 10th and despite giving up a 2-out hit in the 10th that made us think "here we go again", he picked up the win with Nate Thompson coming for his first Rays save and getting the final out. Offensively the star was Dane Ayers, who started at 3B today and went 3-4 with 3 RBI. Dominguez got them on the board in the 4th with HR #6 and Jaiden Hardaway also singled in a run. The Yankees lost so the Rays are back within a game of the lead.

Game 3: The Rays won a game comfortably for a change, taking an 8-2 decision over the Mariners behind Jon Hayes and a great game from rookie Bo Angeac. Hayes gave up 2 second-inning runs but was lights-out after that, going 7 6 2 2 1 6 and improving to 4-2. Jon Whiteleather and Chris Hicks each had a scoreless inning to finish the game. Dane Ayers picked up where he left off from last night's 3-RBI with 2 more on double to make it 2-0 Rays in the 2nd and then Angeac went deep for the second time in three games to make it 4-0. In the 5th Angeac walked to lead off the inning, stole second and scored on Dayle Jenkins' grounder, and then he singled in a run in the 6th. Jasson Dominguez added a 2-run HR (#7) in the 8th to round out the scoring. The Yankees won to stay a game ahead.

Team record: 20-12. Next up: Instead of continuing this west coast trip in Oakland, we instead get a day off to return home to play Oakland. Maybe they're hitching a ride on our flight.