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Old 08-11-2021, 10:06 PM   #201
Art Deco
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Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 7,087
June 19-21, 2023: vs Kansas City (3)

A little over three weeks ago I was surprised when this team won a game, now I'm surprised when they lose. And there were no surprises in this series as the Rays swept the Royals in rather convincing fashion at the Trop to make it 20 wins in 22 games after winning only 19 in their first 50.

Game 1 saw the Rays trail 3-1 in the 5th before 4 runs in the bottom of the inning and 4 more in the 7th gave them a 9-3 win. They managed those 9 runs with the benefit of only extra-base hit, a double, with Jarren Duran (3-5 with 2 RBI) and Vidal Brujan (a 2-run single in the 5th which broke a 3-3 tie) leading a balanced attack. Joe Ryan gave up a pair of homers of course but nothing else and finished 6 4 3 3 0 9 for the win with Shane McClanahan going the final 3 scoreless with 4 whiffs for his first MLB save.

Tyler Glasnow wasn't his sharpest in Game 2, going 5 6 4 4 4 8, but it didn't matter as the suddenly-explosive offense put 8 more on the board in an 8-4 win. This time they did blast 3 homers with Jarren Duran 3-5 with #9 and 3 RBI, Adley Rutschman going deep again for (#8/#17), driving in 2 and taking over the AL OPS lead, and Lewin Diaz blasting #12 off a lefty. Glasnow did improve to 6-4.

Game 3 was a 6-0 romp as Jarren Duran stayed red-hot with a pair of solo homers to give him 11 as part of a 3-hit day and Griffin Canning was brilliant with 6 1/3 shutout innings and 7 whiffs for his 2nd Rays win. Lewin Diaz homered again (#13) as well and drove in a pair.

Team record: 39-33, now in sole possession of 2nd place in the AL East and only 1 game back of the Yankees, who took 2 of 3. Next up: An off-day then San Antonio visits the Trop for 3 before we hit the All-Star Break.

Last edited by Art Deco; 08-11-2021 at 10:14 PM.
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