Game 1: A solid performance from Jon Soranno and some early hitting led the Rays to a 5-2 win over Cleveland at Publix Park in their series opener. Soranno struggled at times with runners, but ended up a tidy 6 6 0 0 0 6 to improve to 6-3, 4.64. Tony Rey struggled again, allowing 2 runs in the 7th but Billy Hoyte did fine work for 1 1/3, setting up Kikuo Kawase for save #15. Eric Titcombe's MLB-leading 23rd homer got the Rays up 1-0 in the 1st and Will Quintana had a big day, going 3-4 with 3 RBI on a 2-run double and run-scoring single. Toronto beat Boston to stay 4 back.
Game 2: The Rays wasted a brilliant effort from Kevin Kerstetter in a 2-0 loss at Publix Park. Guardians ace Danny Romero, who shut them out over 6 2/3 in Cleveland about 10 days ago, did it again over 6 innings today and despite a few attempted rallies the Rays couldn't score against him or the Cleveland bullpen. Kerstetter meanwhile went 8 5 1 1 1 11 with the only damage a 3rd-inning solo homer, while Jim Golunski and Tim Siqueiros combined to allow a run in the 9th. Toronto lost at Boston so at least the division lead did not erode.
That was unexpected - at no point did Jon Soranno "feel" like the AL pitcher of the month although I recognize he's turned things around after a very rough start.
Another outfielder in our system who can hit. Cervantes was our July 2 signing back in 2031 and he's still only 22.
Game 3: Josh Carsello was excellent today, falling one out away from recording a shutout as the Rays blanked the Guardians 5-0. The lefty went 8.2 10 0 0 0 12, a line I don't think ever seen before, on 124 pitches and finally gave way after putting two men on in the 9th. Danny Medina got a popup for the final out to complete the shutout as Carsello goes to 9-3, 2.17 and leads the AL in wins (tied), strikeouts, ERA and pitcher WAR just shy of the season's halfway mark. The offense failed to score for another four innings but finally pushed across a couple in the 5th on RBI singles from Omar Rodriguez and Jon Jimenez, and in the 6th Daniel Vasquez (#11) and Eric Titcombe (an MLB-tops 24) went back-to-back.
Game 4: The Rays broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 8th with back-to-back-back jacks to take a 6-3 win and 3 out of 4 from Cleveland. Eric Titcombe (who else?) led the homer parade with the game-winner, his 25th, while Jeff Baez (#8) and Will Quintana (#7) followed suit. This made a winner of Jim Golunski, who struck out 3 in the 8th and enabled Kikuo Kawase, who also struck out 3 after allowing hits to the first two men he faced, to grab save #16. Jeremy Curtis had a mediocre start (5 7 3 3 2 2) to put them in a 3-1 hole but Jon Jimenez and Danny Ayala singled in runs in the 5th and 7th to get them level. Omar Rodriguez put the Rays on the board in the 1st with HR #19. Toronto won to stay 5 back.
Team record: 57-24. Next up: 3 games at Yankee Stadium.