April 26-28, 2038: vs Baltimore (3)
Game 1: The Rays took a 7-4 win over the Orioles at Publix Park thanks to a big bases-clearing double from Daniel Malone. After Baltimore had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the 6th, the Rays loaded the bases and Malone came through with his 8th double of the year to provide the game-winning hit as he's off to a hot start at 358/460/642. Tampa Bay batters hit 6 doubles in all including one from Jim Gebers, who drove in a pair and is raking too at 358/492/698, playing every day with Jaiden Hardaway out. Jeremy Curtis got the win despite losing the lead in the 6th, going 6 6 4 3 1 8 and is now 2-0, 1.67 while Kikuo Kawase struck out the side in the 9th for save #5.
Game 2: 5-0 deficit in the 6th? No problem as the Rays came from behind and topped Baltimore 6-5. Josh Carsello simply did not have it today against his former team, going 3.2 7 5 5 2 0 with the lack of strikeouts telling. Kevin Kerstetter came on, and unlike his first two long relief appearances he was very sharp today and went 3.2 1 0 0 1 3 which gave the offense a chance to come back. It started with 3 in the 6th keyed by a Danny Ayala 2-run double, and 3 more in the 7th put them over the top with Jon Jimenez's RBI double tying it and Bo Angeac's single to score Jimenez providing the winning margin. Kerstetter earned the win and Kikuo Kawase picked up the save (#6) for the second straight day.
Game 3: The Rays fell behind early 3-0 and today there would be no comeback as they lost to Baltimore 3-1. It was a rematch of Danny Romero vs. Nate Thompson and Thompson came out the better today, going 5 2/3 and allowing only an unearned run. He was aided by the fact that Omar Rodriguez and Bo Angeac needed to rest today and of course Jaiden Hardaway is on the IL at the moment. Romero meanwhile had his poorest Rays start but it was still a quality one, going 6 6 3 3 1 4. He took his first loss as a Ray and saw his ERA "balloon" to 1.59.
Team record: 16-6. Next up: An off-day followed by Toronto coming to town for the weekend.
Last edited by Art Deco; 09-15-2021 at 01:58 PM.
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