Game 1: "Team of destiny" is such an overused cliche in the sports world, but I can't help but feel the 2021 Rays might just be one, especially after their highly improbable comeback today to win. Down 4-1 and with two out and nobody on in the bottom of the 9th, they mounted a rally to tie the game and then won it in the 10th inning 5-4. Late-game heroics were the last thing on anyone's mind, though, as Tyler Glasnow took a no-hitter into the 7th inning although his team hadn't scored a run to support him. The no-hitter was lost with two out when Pat Valaika took him deep to LF to make it 1-0 Baltimore, and Glasnow departed having gone an exceptional 7 1 1 1 3 13. Meanwhile, the Rays were shut down by Felix Hernandez, who turned back the clock to shut them down through 7 innings. Peter Fairbanks gave up a 2-out triple in the 8th and then balked the man home to make it 2-0 Orioles, and although the Rays finally got one back in the bottom of the inning on an Austin Meadows RBI single, Diego Castillo gave up a 2-run shot to that man Valaika again in the top of the 9th and it looked to be game over at 4-1. Tanner Scott came on to close for Baltimore, and got two quick groundouts before Ji-Man Choi doubled and Wander Franco beat out an infield single. Willy Adames then doubled in Choi and with men on 2nd and 3rd, Mike Brosseau pinch-hit for Kevin Kiermaier and delivered a 2-run single to tie it. After Castillo got two out in the 10th and Nick Anderson the final out, Meadows walked to lead it off, went to 3rd on a perfectly executed hit-and-run single with Yandy Diaz, and Brandon Lowe singled in Meadows with the walk-off winner. The Yankees lost last night while the Rays were idle but were themselves off tonight so the lead continues to grow to 6 1/2.
WTG Brett Honeywell!
Game 2: It didn't take any late-game heroics today for the Rays to win (unless you define the bottom of the 5th as "late") as they took a 7-4 decision over Baltimore to make it 7 straight wins and 9 of 10. The bats got off to a quick start when Oriole starter Dean Kremer walked the first two men he faced and Brandon Lowe (now leading all MLB hitters in WAR at 3.6) took him deep for a 3-run shot (#16) with Kevin Kiermaier later singling in a run in a 4-run 1st. But Baltimore fought back against Chris Archer, getting a Cedric Mullins homer and then a 3-run rally in the top of the 5th to tie it up. But as in their game-winning rally the night before, Austin Meadows and Yandy Diaz singled to lead off the bottom of the frame and put men on 1st and 3rd, and Randy Arozarena's sac fly made it 5-4. They added some insurance in the 7th and 8th on a Meadows solo shot (#16) and a Wander Franco RBI double. Archer hung in there long enough to get the win, going 6.1 8 4 4 0 8 to improve to 4-2 even though his ERA ticked up to 4.27. Chaz Roe was the savior today, as Archer left having given up a triple with one out, but the righty reliever whiffed 2 Orioles to strand the runner and preserve the lead. Roe's been great this year in middle relief with 40 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings and a 1.09 ERA. He stayed on through the 8th and Nick Anderson pitched around a 2-out double to pick up save #13. And the division lead keeps on widening with a Yankee loss in Philadelphia today, now standing at a commanding 7 1/2 games. In fact if the Yankees keep losing it might be Boston we're looking at soon as they're within 1/2 game of New York. Also with Arizona's loss tonight the Rays are tied with the Diamondbacks for the best record in MLB at 41-24.
Game 3: The roll continues as Tampa Bay had its way with the Orioles today, routing them 9-2 to make it 8 wins on the trot, as the English say. Alex Wood was excellent again and has been an inspired acquisition as the veteran lefty went 7 4 1 1 2 6 and is now 4-1, 2.83 in 5 starts since joining the Rays. Josh Fleming went the final 2 innings and allowed a 9th-inning run. Brandon Lowe started the hit parade as usual, launching a 2-run shot in the 1st (#17) and added a sac fly later while Wander Franco had the best game of his young MLB career with an RBI double and a 2-run single. Rays batters were on base all day as the Oriole staff walked 11 to go with the 10 hits they banged out. One oddity: Randy Arozarena was plunked with pitches twice today, and has a total of 8 for the season. The Yankees won today to stop their bleeding but they remain 7 1/2 back, and Arizona won so we continue the share the best record in MLB.
Team record: 42-24. Next up: Road trip time as we head to the Windy City to play 3 against the White Sox.