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Art Deco · 12-19-2021, 10:30 AM

Game 1: The Rays survived a bullpen meltdown, losing a 6-2 lead, but eventually prevailed 8-7 in 17 innings over the Orioles to keep the win streak alive at 9 and 21 of 22. They did suffer a key injury though as All-Star C Mike McKee broke a cheekbone in a collision at second base and will be out 6 weeks. Good thing we kept Kevin Morley around. Josh Alexander's 11th HR of the year, a 446-ft blast to right center, was the game-winner and Alexander's 5th hit of the day. Jimmy Leonard also homered (#6) and drove in a pair as Brad Jackson was very good (6 4 2 2 1 6) but Dan Anderson and Chris Williams combined to allow 5 Oriole runs in the 7th with the latter giving up a grand slam to a lefty hitter. This actually put the Rays behind but they managed to tie it in the 8th on a wild pitch and then we slogged through 8 extra innings with Jon Harbour turning in 4 scoreless and Jordan Perez going the final 3 without allowing a run for his 2nd win.

May 4: Placed C Mike McKee on the 10-day IL with a fractured cheekbone, recalled C Kevin Morley from AAA Durham.

Game 2: The Rays took a 9-5 win to bring their latest streak to 10 games in a game that really wasn't that close. Jeff Brockman gave up a couple of runs to increase his microscopic ERA but was still dominant in a 6 5 2 2 1 11 outing to go to 6-0, 1.31. Jose Mendez was the star on offense, driving in 4 including a 3-run homer (#3) to break a 1-1 tie in the 3rd. Mike Willis added his first homer of the year and Ramon Ruiz contributed a 2-run shot (#3). Things got a bit dicey in the 9th when Danny Hill gave up 3 runs, Alex Stephens struggled and Chris Toombs was finally called on and fanned his only batter for the final out and save #1.

Game 3: Like Game 1 a bullpen meltdown sent us to extra innings but unlike Game 1 it didn't take long to win it as the Rays won their 11th straight and 23rd in their last 24 6-3 at Camden Yards. Andy Ruggles had a career game with 3 homers and 5 RBI, including a 2-run shot in the 10th after Josh Alexander had tripled in the game-winner. Ruggles now has 10 longballs on the year as he joins many others as the Rays' single-game HR record holder. Vinny Willard started and pitched quite well, not allowing a hit through 4 and finishing 6.1 3 1 1 1 4. He would have had the win but Ed Pretty blew the save in the 9th, allowing 2 runs and loading the bases with one out although to his credit he got a pair of whiffs to end the inning and keep the game alive so that Alexander and Ruggles could come through. With Kikuo Kawase still tired from a lengthy outing in Game 1 Alex Stephens closed the door in the 10th for his first MLB save.

Team record: 30-5, and if they can win their next 5 they'll equal the 1984 Tigers' MLB-record 35-5 start to a season. Next up: 3 at home vs Arizona.

12-19-2021, 10:30 AM	#1553
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,404	May 3-5, 2041: at Baltimore (3) Game 1: The Rays survived a bullpen meltdown, losing a 6-2 lead, but eventually prevailed 8-7 in 17 innings over the Orioles to keep the win streak alive at 9 and 21 of 22. They did suffer a key injury though as All-Star C Mike McKee broke a cheekbone in a collision at second base and will be out 6 weeks. Good thing we kept Kevin Morley around. Josh Alexander's 11th HR of the year, a 446-ft blast to right center, was the game-winner and Alexander's 5th hit of the day. Jimmy Leonard also homered (#6) and drove in a pair as Brad Jackson was very good (6 4 2 2 1 6) but Dan Anderson and Chris Williams combined to allow 5 Oriole runs in the 7th with the latter giving up a grand slam to a lefty hitter. This actually put the Rays behind but they managed to tie it in the 8th on a wild pitch and then we slogged through 8 extra innings with Jon Harbour turning in 4 scoreless and Jordan Perez going the final 3 without allowing a run for his 2nd win. May 4: Placed C Mike McKee on the 10-day IL with a fractured cheekbone, recalled C Kevin Morley from AAA Durham. Game 2: The Rays took a 9-5 win to bring their latest streak to 10 games in a game that really wasn't that close. Jeff Brockman gave up a couple of runs to increase his microscopic ERA but was still dominant in a 6 5 2 2 1 11 outing to go to 6-0, 1.31. Jose Mendez was the star on offense, driving in 4 including a 3-run homer (#3) to break a 1-1 tie in the 3rd. Mike Willis added his first homer of the year and Ramon Ruiz contributed a 2-run shot (#3). Things got a bit dicey in the 9th when Danny Hill gave up 3 runs, Alex Stephens struggled and Chris Toombs was finally called on and fanned his only batter for the final out and save #1. Game 3: Like Game 1 a bullpen meltdown sent us to extra innings but unlike Game 1 it didn't take long to win it as the Rays won their 11th straight and 23rd in their last 24 6-3 at Camden Yards. Andy Ruggles had a career game with 3 homers and 5 RBI, including a 2-run shot in the 10th after Josh Alexander had tripled in the game-winner. Ruggles now has 10 longballs on the year as he joins many others as the Rays' single-game HR record holder. Vinny Willard started and pitched quite well, not allowing a hit through 4 and finishing 6.1 3 1 1 1 4. He would have had the win but Ed Pretty blew the save in the 9th, allowing 2 runs and loading the bases with one out although to his credit he got a pair of whiffs to end the inning and keep the game alive so that Alexander and Ruggles could come through. With Kikuo Kawase still tired from a lengthy outing in Game 1 Alex Stephens closed the door in the 10th for his first MLB save. Team record: 30-5, and if they can win their next 5 they'll equal the 1984 Tigers' MLB-record 35-5 start to a season. Next up: 3 at home vs Arizona.