Game 1: The Rays took a 5-1 win over the Lightning to open their final regular season series at Publix Park in 2043. Jimmy Leonard was 3-4 with HR #37, Jon Callahan had a 2-run single to break a 1-1 tie in the 6th, and Doug Johns delivered a 2-run single for insurance in the 7th. Jon Harbour started but ran up a pitch count forcing him to leave in the 5th having gone 4 4 1 1 2 5 on 86 pitches. Dan Anderson (5-3) got the win in relief and Freddy Zamora recorded the final four outs for save #16.
Game 2: The Rays lambasted the Lightning 14-7 in a game that was only that close because Alex Stephens gave up 5 runs in the 9th. Luis Barela keeps doing his thing 2-4 with a double, HR #40 and 4 RBI, Josh Alexander also hit a 2-run HR (#45) as part of a 3-5 day, Dan Gregory had a 3-run blast (#12) and Jose Mendez had one too (#23). Jim Brophy went to 22-3, 2.76 after going 5 7 1 1 1 2. He'll get one more start to try and tie the team record for wins in a season held by Nate Thompson (2036) and Brad Jackson (2041).
Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep and finished the season 64-17 at Publix Park with a 6-2 win over Columbus, their 7th straight. Brad Jackson was solid (6 6 2 2 0 2) and went to 16-7, 4.60, Josh Beckett broke a 2-2 tie in the 6th with an RBI double, and Tomas Laboy added a 2-run shot (#7) for some cushion.
Team record: 109-47. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Houston.
This was no surprise:
Also here's a look at the MLB standings going into the final week:
There's no suspense in the AL, and in the NL the only thing really left at stake is whether Atlanta or the Mets win the East as the two of them are 3 up on the Phillies for the second wild card.