Game 1: The Rays fought back from a 5-1 deficit to take a 7-5 lead, but the bullpen blew it for them in an 8-7 loss. Nate Schultz started and pitched well outside of one really bad inning, the 3rd, when Washington scored four times including a revenge 3-run shot from Joe Barker, still bitter about being sat for the 2031 playoffs before we dealt him the following winter. But the Rays had a big 6-run 4th to take the lead which saw a 2-run single from Luis Corpus followed by a 2-run triple from Marco Abrego, continuing to get it done. Schultz settled in nicely and finished 6 6 5 5 0 6 but the trouble started once the game was turned over to the pen. Billy Hoyte and Tim Siqueiros combined to allow Washington to tie it in the 7th at 7, and Mike Wherry served up a solo homer to Brennan Milone to put the Nationals ahead. The Rays put two men on in the 9th but couldn't get them home as Jeff Baez's liner was snagged by the third baseman.
June 7: Claimed P Tyler Jefferson on waivers from Minnesota, optioned P Edgar Rios to AAA Durham.
Not really sure what I'm doing here. I've always liked Jefferson since his days in Toronto and like him in the future as a starter but right now he's going to pitch in relief. Rios didn't deserve the demotion but Jefferson can't be optioned to the minors without his consent and he refused. So for now Jefferson goes into the bullpen, where his ratings and numbers with the Twins were very good:
Game 2: The Rays avenged their loss last night by taking today's matinee 10-3 from the Nationals. They jumped all over Brody Westbrooks for 5 runs in the first 2 innings with a steady progression of base hits, as Danny Ayala, Bo Angeac and Jon Jimenez were among those with RBI singles. Later Ayala homered, his 16th, and Jeff Baez crushed a 3-run homer (#2) to give him a 4-RBI day. Leo Ortega sat back in his rocking chair with the run support and went 6 4 1 1 0 3 to improve to 9-1, 3.59 and go to 26-6 since joining the team last year. Right now he's the only Rays start with an ERA under 4. Tyler Jefferson made his Tampa Bay debut and went the final 3 innings, giving up 2 runs in the 7th but settling in and picking up the save. Our OFs continue to drop like flies, though: Dayle Jenkins left with a bruised knee and while it's considered "minimal" it's supposed to last 1-2 weeks. He'll stay off the IL and probably play a little less during this period. Michael Valdez came in for him and ripped an RBI double in his first MLB at-bat.
Team record: 46-14. Next up: We're finally back home for 4 vs Seattle.