[Art Deco]

Game 1: The Rays took a 4-3 decision over Detroit in a game they should have won by a larger margin, but a win nonetheless. They had 19 baserunners (15 hits, 3 walks, a HBP) but left 11 on base and had 3 runners thrown out on the bases so only 4 crossed the plate. Most of that inefficiency came after the 1st when they scored 3 times against Tiger knuckleballer Derek DeGolyer. Rodolfo Rivas, Jaiden Hardaway and Bo Angeac had RBI singles to key the rally and Hardaway later singled in a big insurance run in the 7th. Jon Soranno got the start and was pretty good (6 7 2 2 1 7) in going to 2-0, 4.02, another Rays starter working his ERA down from a rough first start. The bullpen did its job with Tim Siqueiros pitching a 1-2-3 7th and Jordan Diaz lights-out in the 9th for his 2nd save by striking out the side, but in the 8th Jim Connors gave up a homer for the second straight game, letting Spencer Torkelson take him deep to cut the lead to 4-3. Normally we'd have seen Kikuo Kawase but he needed rest today.

Game 2: An extremely similar game to yesterday's as the Rays pounded out 11 hits, drew 4 walks and had one batter hit with a pitch but could only score 2 runs. And like yesterday it was fortunately enough to win as Detroit had their own issues with stranding runners as the Rays took a 2-1 win. 2 more caught stealing and hitting into 3 double plays were the main explanation for the Rays' profligacy today but the pair they scored in the 2nd held up. Melvin Gutierrez reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, and scored on Jaiden Hardaway's single. Hardaway (who was 4-4) then stole second and went to third on a bad throw, scoring on Dayle Jenkins' single. Meanwhile Andy Aparicio was scattering hits, three of which were infield dribblers, as he pitched into the 7th before Detroit scored off him. AA improved to 3-1 on the back of today's 6.2 8 1 1 1 5 outing and was relieved by Kikuo Kawase, who gave up a single but got a groundout before striking out 3 in the 8th around another single. And Jordan Diaz seems to be fine now as he turned in another 1-2-3 9th inning for his 3rd save.

Game 3: Kevin Kerstetter made his Rays debut replacing the injured Alec Sachais and while he started off well, things soured in the middle innings as he allowed a trio of 2-run homers and the Rays lost 6-5 to Detroit. He looked good in the first 3 innings, allowing only 1 hit and striking out 5, but he walked Spencer Torkelson ahead of Blaze Jordan in the 4th and the Detroit slugger took him deep to tie the game. Then he allowed a single in front of Sam Huff and the veteran catcher went yard to make it 4-2 Tigers. Kersetter came back out for the 5th, walked Torkelson again and maybe I should have pulled him there but with 2 out I gave him another chance against Jordan, and it was deja vu all over again with Jordan's 2nd blast of the game. Kerstetter's final line was 5 5 6 6 3 7, and while the whiffs were nice he's not so overpowering he can walk people and it cost him today. Danny Medina took over and said "Hey, I should have gotten the start" by going 3 hitless innings with 5 whiffs and Chris Hicks pitched a 1-2-3 2K 9th. The offense grabbed an early 2-0 lead on solo homers from Victor de Jesus (#4) in the 1st and Bo Angeac (#2) in the 2nd, then got 2 back in the 5th on a Dayle Jenkins RBI double and a bases-loaded walk to Mike Harms but the rally was cut short as Torkelson threw out Jenkins trying to score on a sac fly. Angeac added an RBI single in the 7th to make it 6-5, and they got the first two men on against Detroit closer Eddie Pelton in the 9th but Harms grounded into a double play and Angeac whiffed to end the game.

Team record: 13-4. Next up: 3 at home vs Houston, off to a surprising 11-5 start.

Interesting stat note: Danny Medina has thrown 13 innings in 5 long relief outings this year, and after today now has 24 strikeouts which is 3rd in the AL.