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Art Deco · 07-25-2021, 01:48 PM

Game 1: The Rays had an 8-1 lead in the 4th and Nate Thompson on the mound but somehow they found a way to squander that lead and lose 9-8 in 10 innings to Houston. Jaiden Hardaway had a 3-run HR (#8), Dayle Jenkins homered again (#14) and Jeff Baez was 4-5 with an RBI to pace the early offensive onslaught. But Thompson couldn't handle success, coming unglued in the 4th and having to leave after 3 2/3 having thrown 96 pitches going 3.2 5 4 3 3 5. And the bullpen wasn't much better: Billy Hoyte gave up a pair of runs, Tim Siqueiros another, and it was 8-7 going to the bottom of the 9th when Kikuo Kawase gave up an RBI double with nobody out and the runner going to 3rd. He struck his way out of the jam but it took him 30 pitches, so Mike Wherry came on for the 10th, gave up a double with one out and then proceeded to walk the next 3 batters to force in the winner, the 12th walk of the night from Rays pitchers. And while there was plenty of blame to go around and it's hard to criticize an offense that put up 8 runs, it wouldn't have been nice if they could have scored even once over the final 6. The win was costly for Houston, though: Juan Soto suffered a severe hamstring strain and will be out 3 months.

Game 2: The Rays trailed 2-1 after 7 innings but scored 8 times in the final two innings to take a 9-3 win over Houston. Alfredo Vega started and after giving up 2 runs in the first, settled down to pitch a fine 6 4 2 2 2 7 game but received no support from the bats. Finally in the 8th they mounted a rally against former Rays Dusty Cross and Shane McClanahan, scoring 5 times (twice on wild pitches) with the key hit an Eric Titcombe pinch-RBI single to put them ahead to stay. And they tacked 3 more on in the 9th on a trio of solo homers from Jon Jimenez (#15), Titcombe (#9) and Jeremy Glasson (#1), seeing his first action since being recalled. Willie Bertone picked up win #2 in relief after coming on in the 7th. He gave up a run in the 8th but Jim Golunski got him out of a jam and stayed on through the 9th for his 2nd save.

Game 3: Danny Ayala homered twice and drove in 5 and Josh Carsello and Bob Sirna combined on a 3-hit shutout as the Rays routed the Astros 9-0 at Minute Maid Park. Ayala had a 3-run blast in the 1st to get the Rays on the board and added a 2-run HR (#18) in the 7th. Jim Gebers hit his 9th in the 2nd inning and Jeff Baez was 3-5 with an RBI to also pace the offense. Meanwhile Carsello shut down the 'Stros, going 6.1 3 0 0 3 7 to improve to 9-2, 3.93 and Sirna went the final 2 2/3 hitless with 4 whiffs as he gets back on track.

Team record: 58-13. Next up: Back home to play 3 against Baltimore.

07-25-2021, 01:48 PM	#1141
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,434	June 13-15, 2036: at Houston (3) Game 1: The Rays had an 8-1 lead in the 4th and Nate Thompson on the mound but somehow they found a way to squander that lead and lose 9-8 in 10 innings to Houston. Jaiden Hardaway had a 3-run HR (#8), Dayle Jenkins homered again (#14) and Jeff Baez was 4-5 with an RBI to pace the early offensive onslaught. But Thompson couldn't handle success, coming unglued in the 4th and having to leave after 3 2/3 having thrown 96 pitches going 3.2 5 4 3 3 5. And the bullpen wasn't much better: Billy Hoyte gave up a pair of runs, Tim Siqueiros another, and it was 8-7 going to the bottom of the 9th when Kikuo Kawase gave up an RBI double with nobody out and the runner going to 3rd. He struck his way out of the jam but it took him 30 pitches, so Mike Wherry came on for the 10th, gave up a double with one out and then proceeded to walk the next 3 batters to force in the winner, the 12th walk of the night from Rays pitchers. And while there was plenty of blame to go around and it's hard to criticize an offense that put up 8 runs, it wouldn't have been nice if they could have scored even once over the final 6. The win was costly for Houston, though: Juan Soto suffered a severe hamstring strain and will be out 3 months. Game 2: The Rays trailed 2-1 after 7 innings but scored 8 times in the final two innings to take a 9-3 win over Houston. Alfredo Vega started and after giving up 2 runs in the first, settled down to pitch a fine 6 4 2 2 2 7 game but received no support from the bats. Finally in the 8th they mounted a rally against former Rays Dusty Cross and Shane McClanahan, scoring 5 times (twice on wild pitches) with the key hit an Eric Titcombe pinch-RBI single to put them ahead to stay. And they tacked 3 more on in the 9th on a trio of solo homers from Jon Jimenez (#15), Titcombe (#9) and Jeremy Glasson (#1), seeing his first action since being recalled. Willie Bertone picked up win #2 in relief after coming on in the 7th. He gave up a run in the 8th but Jim Golunski got him out of a jam and stayed on through the 9th for his 2nd save. Game 3: Danny Ayala homered twice and drove in 5 and Josh Carsello and Bob Sirna combined on a 3-hit shutout as the Rays routed the Astros 9-0 at Minute Maid Park. Ayala had a 3-run blast in the 1st to get the Rays on the board and added a 2-run HR (#18) in the 7th. Jim Gebers hit his 9th in the 2nd inning and Jeff Baez was 3-5 with an RBI to also pace the offense. Meanwhile Carsello shut down the 'Stros, going 6.1 3 0 0 3 7 to improve to 9-2, 3.93 and Sirna went the final 2 2/3 hitless with 4 whiffs as he gets back on track. Team record: 58-13. Next up: Back home to play 3 against Baltimore. Last edited by Art Deco; 07-25-2021 at 02:50 PM.