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Art Deco · 10-04-2021, 08:36 PM

Game 1: The Rays showed today that you can't leave the door open for even an inch or they'll take advantage after a key Baltimore error allowed them to pull off a come-from-behind 5-4 win on Labor Day at Publix Park. Tampa Bay trailed 4-3 in the bottom of the 8th with 2 out and a man on, and Daniel Vasquez hit a simple pop to Baltimore 2B Greg Westhoff, who dropped it to keep the inning alive. So up stepped Daniel Malone who drilled a 2-run double into LCF gap and instead of hoping for a 9th-inning rally the Rays were winners. Tim Gates was roughed up early as Baltimore took a 4-0 on the strength of two Josh Hutchinson homers but Jaiden Hardaway drove in a couple to get the Rays within striking distance. Gates finished 5 7 4 4 1 7 but the bullpen was brilliant, combining to go 4 1 0 0 0 10 with Chris Toombs, who picked up win #3, and Ken Burgess, who picked up save #2 with Kikuo Kawase tired, each striking out the side in their inning of work.

NOTE: Wasn't even paying attention but we clinched the division with today's win.

Game 2: The Rays made it 12 straight by once again winning the game in the bottom of the 8th, today by the score of 6-5. Unlike yesterday however it was the Rays who blew a 4-run lead, but Jaiden Hardaway's 24th homer of the year broke a 5-5 tie in the 8th, his 3rd hit of the game and enough for him to reach 10 WAR for the fourth time in the last six seasons (and he had 9.5 and 9.7 WAR in the other two!). Tampa Bay had built a 5-1 lead with a 2-run Ben Hill single (still hitting over .400 with a 16-game hitting streak) and Daniel Malone RBI triple the big hits, but Ted Hadley ran out of gas in the 6th and gave up a 2-run homer as is his wont, Steve Beaver couldn't get anyone out and the Orioles tied it with 4 in the inning. Hardaway's homer though made Mike Wherry a winner for the 3rd time and Ken Burgess got the final out to save it for the second straight day, his 3rd of the season.

Game 3: Another 3+ run blown, another win anyway for the Rays, their 13th straight as they walked off an 8-7 decision over Baltimore. It looked like this might finally be the time the Rays lose as the Orioles took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the 9th and their closer Phil Daniels whiffed Daniel Vasquez to start the inning. But Jimmy Leonard singled for his 3rd hit of the game and pinch-hitter Ben Hill stepped up and continued to build his legend by pulling a line drive homer just over the LF wall inside the foul pole to walk it off for Tampa Bay. The homer was Hill's 5th in 66 AB and his triple slash line is 424/457/758. He's a butcher in the field but if you hit like that nobody cares. Overshadowed by Hill's heroics was Omar Rodriguez, who blasted a pair of homers and drove in 3 to give him 26 and 112 in those categories and of course Jaiden Hardaway was 2-4 with a walk and an RBI. Ron Adams was gifted a 6-3 lead but he just didn't really have it today, going 5 8 5 5 3 5 and seeing his ERA rise to 3.94. The bullpen wasn't much better with Joe Trader allowing the tying run and Vinny Willard the go-ahead score in the top of the 9th but thanks to Hill, Willard ended up with his 8th win of the year.

Team record: 105-33. Will they ever lose again? New York will get 4 cracks at them at Yankee Stadium next although they're 0-12 vs the Rays this year.

10-04-2021, 08:36 PM	#1340
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,694	September 6-8, 2038: vs Baltimore (3) Game 1: The Rays showed today that you can't leave the door open for even an inch or they'll take advantage after a key Baltimore error allowed them to pull off a come-from-behind 5-4 win on Labor Day at Publix Park. Tampa Bay trailed 4-3 in the bottom of the 8th with 2 out and a man on, and Daniel Vasquez hit a simple pop to Baltimore 2B Greg Westhoff, who dropped it to keep the inning alive. So up stepped Daniel Malone who drilled a 2-run double into LCF gap and instead of hoping for a 9th-inning rally the Rays were winners. Tim Gates was roughed up early as Baltimore took a 4-0 on the strength of two Josh Hutchinson homers but Jaiden Hardaway drove in a couple to get the Rays within striking distance. Gates finished 5 7 4 4 1 7 but the bullpen was brilliant, combining to go 4 1 0 0 0 10 with Chris Toombs, who picked up win #3, and Ken Burgess, who picked up save #2 with Kikuo Kawase tired, each striking out the side in their inning of work. NOTE: Wasn't even paying attention but we clinched the division with today's win. Game 2: The Rays made it 12 straight by once again winning the game in the bottom of the 8th, today by the score of 6-5. Unlike yesterday however it was the Rays who blew a 4-run lead, but Jaiden Hardaway's 24th homer of the year broke a 5-5 tie in the 8th, his 3rd hit of the game and enough for him to reach 10 WAR for the fourth time in the last six seasons (and he had 9.5 and 9.7 WAR in the other two!). Tampa Bay had built a 5-1 lead with a 2-run Ben Hill single (still hitting over .400 with a 16-game hitting streak) and Daniel Malone RBI triple the big hits, but Ted Hadley ran out of gas in the 6th and gave up a 2-run homer as is his wont, Steve Beaver couldn't get anyone out and the Orioles tied it with 4 in the inning. Hardaway's homer though made Mike Wherry a winner for the 3rd time and Ken Burgess got the final out to save it for the second straight day, his 3rd of the season. Game 3: Another 3+ run blown, another win anyway for the Rays, their 13th straight as they walked off an 8-7 decision over Baltimore. It looked like this might finally be the time the Rays lose as the Orioles took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the 9th and their closer Phil Daniels whiffed Daniel Vasquez to start the inning. But Jimmy Leonard singled for his 3rd hit of the game and pinch-hitter Ben Hill stepped up and continued to build his legend by pulling a line drive homer just over the LF wall inside the foul pole to walk it off for Tampa Bay. The homer was Hill's 5th in 66 AB and his triple slash line is 424/457/758. He's a butcher in the field but if you hit like that nobody cares. Overshadowed by Hill's heroics was Omar Rodriguez, who blasted a pair of homers and drove in 3 to give him 26 and 112 in those categories and of course Jaiden Hardaway was 2-4 with a walk and an RBI. Ron Adams was gifted a 6-3 lead but he just didn't really have it today, going 5 8 5 5 3 5 and seeing his ERA rise to 3.94. The bullpen wasn't much better with Joe Trader allowing the tying run and Vinny Willard the go-ahead score in the top of the 9th but thanks to Hill, Willard ended up with his 8th win of the year. Team record: 105-33. Will they ever lose again? New York will get 4 cracks at them at Yankee Stadium next although they're 0-12 vs the Rays this year. Last edited by Art Deco; 10-05-2021 at 09:30 AM.