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Old 08-28-2021, 06:30 PM   #1242
Art Deco
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Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 7,498
July 20-22, 2037: at Philadelphia (3)

Game 1: After the Rays scored 3 runs over the first 2 innings it looked like it might be an easy night at the ballpark. It turned out that would be all they'd get but it was enough to squeeze out a 3-2 win at Citizens Bank Park over the Phillies. Omar Rodriguez tripled home Jaiden Hardaway in the 1st, and after they loaded the bases in the 2nd with nobody out they scored on a double play grounder and a wild pitch. Jeremy Curtis started and pitched well until he ran into trouble in the 6th, allowing the 2 runs and finishing 5.1 6 2 2 2 5. That improved him to 7-3, 3.55 but he needed the work of Chris Toombs, who got him out of the 6th inning jam and then pitched around a leadoff triple he allowed in 7th with a couple of whiffs. Tim Siqueiros took the 8th and Kikuo Kawase fanned a pair in the 9th for save #21.

Game 2: Kevin Kerstetter was outstanding in his first post-break start and the Rays broke open a 1-0 game with 3 in the 8th to take a 4-1 win in Philadelphia. KK was looking to bounce back from his disastrous start against Houston in which he allowed 8 runs (1 earned) in 1/3 of an inning and he did so emphatically, going 6 2 0 0 1 8 to improve to 10-5, 2.67. Danny Medina got into some 7th-inning trouble which Jim Golunski bailed him out of, and then Golunski gave up a run in the 8th. With a 3-run lead, righties due, and Kikuo Kawase and Tim Siqueiros both tired, rookie Jeff Reece got the call in his 5th MLB appearance and retired Philly 1-2-3 for his first MLB save. A wild pitch brought home their first run and then in the 8th Danny Ayala doubled in a run and Bo Angeac drilled a 2-run shot (#20) to give the Rays some breathing room.

Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep of Philadelphia with a come-from-behind 9-6 win, their fifth straight. Jon Jimenez was the hero today, starting the comeback with a 2-run homer in the 6th (#16) and then breaking the game open in the 7th with a 3-run double to cap a 5-run inning. Earlier in the frame Omar Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk to tie it and Daniel Malone was hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run. They needed the comeback because Josh Carsello melted down with a 5-run 4th after sailing through the first 3 with a 2-0 lead courtesy of Jaiden Hardaway's 14th HR of the year as he's been on a bit of a binge since the break. That homer came off former Rays ace Nate Schultz, who was traded for Carsello a couple of winters ago. Schultz was mowing down the Rays after that, fanning 8, before leaving in the 6th just before Jimenez went deep. Damani Cotton picked up win #3 in relief while Tim Siqueiros managed save #4. Siqueiros put two on to bring the tying run to the plate in the person of MLB's #4 all-time HR hitter, Gleyber Torres, but Siquerios fanned him to end the game.

Team record: 70-27. Next up: An off-day then back home for a weekend series with Baltimore.

Last edited by Art Deco; 08-28-2021 at 11:29 PM.
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