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Art Deco · 12-27-2021, 03:28 PM

The Rays got back on track with an impressive sweep of a team they may very well face in the playoffs, the Kansas City Royals, at Kauffman Stadium. After the series the Royals sit 2 games ahead of the Rays in the first wild card spot, while the Rays are 3 up on the Yankees and Detroit in the second spot. And of course the Rays aren't looking to settle for a wild card; despite the sweep, though, the Jays took all 3 from San Antonio to stay a game ahead of Tampa Bay atop the AL East.

The opener was Nick Schnell's coming-out party as the rookie OF homered twice and drove in 5 runs in a 7-4 win. Schnell's first of the game was a 3-run shot in the 2nd to put them ahead for good and he added a 2-run blast in the 5th, both off Royals starter Jackson Kowar, to triple his season total. Matt Chapman provided the other two runs with his first Rays homer (and 24th overall) in the 6th. Tarik Skubal wasn't exactly convincing but did enough to win, going 5.1 6 3 2 3 2 to improve to 8-7. Tyler Rogers got a game-ending double play for his 8th save.

The Rays left it late in the second game but tied it at 2 in the 8th, scored 5 times in the 9th to go up 7-2, and then barely hung on for a 7-5 win. Angelo DiSpigna had a massive 4-hit game which included singling in the tying run in the 8th and then delivering a bases-clearing double in the 9th, runs they would end up needing. Wander Franco also rapped out 4 hits including the game-winner in the 9th to break the 2-2 tie while Nick Schnell came off the bench to also deliver an RBI single. Joe Ryan started and pitched very well (6.2 6 2 2 2 3) but had a no-decision as Aaron Fletcher picked up win #4 in relief by getting the final out in the 8th. Luis Garcia was brought in the 9th with a 5-run lead but put two men on and then gave up a 3-run homer, so Tyler Rogers was called on again. Rogers got one out but put the tying runs in scoring position before getting a grounder and a pop-up for save #9.

Tyler Glasnow seems to be rounding back into dominant form again and he pitched 6 strong innings as the Rays shut out Kansas City 3-0 and swept the series. Glasnow went 6 3 0 0 2 8 to improve to 10-11, 5.15 but has allowed only 4 runs over his last 4 starts covering 23 2/3 IP. JT Ginn went the final 1 2/3 to pick up his first MLB save. Wander Franco provided the big hit of the game, a 2-run homer (#15) in the first off Spencer Howard while Angelo DiSpigna stayed hot with a double and an RBI.

Team record: 64-50. Next up: Back home for 3 vs Houston, which has fallen off the pace in the wild card race, 6 games back.

12-27-2021, 03:28 PM	#395
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,578	August 4-6, 2025: at Kansas City (3) The Rays got back on track with an impressive sweep of a team they may very well face in the playoffs, the Kansas City Royals, at Kauffman Stadium. After the series the Royals sit 2 games ahead of the Rays in the first wild card spot, while the Rays are 3 up on the Yankees and Detroit in the second spot. And of course the Rays aren't looking to settle for a wild card; despite the sweep, though, the Jays took all 3 from San Antonio to stay a game ahead of Tampa Bay atop the AL East. The opener was Nick Schnell's coming-out party as the rookie OF homered twice and drove in 5 runs in a 7-4 win. Schnell's first of the game was a 3-run shot in the 2nd to put them ahead for good and he added a 2-run blast in the 5th, both off Royals starter Jackson Kowar, to triple his season total. Matt Chapman provided the other two runs with his first Rays homer (and 24th overall) in the 6th. Tarik Skubal wasn't exactly convincing but did enough to win, going 5.1 6 3 2 3 2 to improve to 8-7. Tyler Rogers got a game-ending double play for his 8th save. The Rays left it late in the second game but tied it at 2 in the 8th, scored 5 times in the 9th to go up 7-2, and then barely hung on for a 7-5 win. Angelo DiSpigna had a massive 4-hit game which included singling in the tying run in the 8th and then delivering a bases-clearing double in the 9th, runs they would end up needing. Wander Franco also rapped out 4 hits including the game-winner in the 9th to break the 2-2 tie while Nick Schnell came off the bench to also deliver an RBI single. Joe Ryan started and pitched very well (6.2 6 2 2 2 3) but had a no-decision as Aaron Fletcher picked up win #4 in relief by getting the final out in the 8th. Luis Garcia was brought in the 9th with a 5-run lead but put two men on and then gave up a 3-run homer, so Tyler Rogers was called on again. Rogers got one out but put the tying runs in scoring position before getting a grounder and a pop-up for save #9. Tyler Glasnow seems to be rounding back into dominant form again and he pitched 6 strong innings as the Rays shut out Kansas City 3-0 and swept the series. Glasnow went 6 3 0 0 2 8 to improve to 10-11, 5.15 but has allowed only 4 runs over his last 4 starts covering 23 2/3 IP. JT Ginn went the final 1 2/3 to pick up his first MLB save. Wander Franco provided the big hit of the game, a 2-run homer (#15) in the first off Spencer Howard while Angelo DiSpigna stayed hot with a double and an RBI. Team record: 64-50. Next up: Back home for 3 vs Houston, which has fallen off the pace in the wild card race, 6 games back.