Things are looking a lot better after a 3-game sweep of the Angels and although the Yankees took 2 of 3 from the Red Sox the lead is back up to 5 1/2 games.
The opener did not start well for the Rays as they trailed 4-2 after 6, but they scored 3 times in the 7th to go ahead. Although the Angels tied it with a Mike Trout homer off
A.J. Puk, the Rays then scored 6 times in the 8th to take an 11-6 win.
Yoelqui Cespedes continues to be an inspired acquisition as he blasted a pair of solo homers to give him 8 with the Rays and 12 overall, and added a 2-run single in that 6-run 8th to cap a 3-5, 4 RBI day. Cespedes is hitting 353/415/647 with 29 RBI in 43 games this year since the trade from the White Sox.
Heston Kjerstad had 2-run HR in the 7th (#8) and
Kelly Crumpton capped the 6-run 8th with a 2-run shot of his own (#21).
Wennington Romero had another poor start (4 4 3 3 3 3) and three relievers allowed runs, including winner
Tylor Megill (2-2).
After hitting four homers last night the Rays blasted four more in the second game to account for all their scoring in a 9-3 win.
Adley Rutschman started things in the first with a 3-run no-doubter on which the outfielders didn't move (#19),
Kelly Crumpton added a 2-run blast for the second straight day (#22), and
Alex Kirilloff (#20) and
Heston Kjerstad (#9) hit 2-run homers off former Ray Reid Detmers.
James Hays started and looked semi-mortal, allowing a first inning homer to Brandon Marsh and going 7.2 4 3 2 3 6 but still went to 16-3, 1.58 as a Ray.
The Rays completed the sweep with a 6-3 decision over the Angels behind a bounceback start from
Dustin May and more fun with the longball, hitting 2 more today to give them 10 for the 3-game series. May (13-5) rebounded from 3 bad starts to go 6 8 2 2 0 6 and
Yasunari Uehara had a scoreless 9th for save #7.
Kelly Crumpton stayed toasty by going 3-4 and homering for the third straight day (#23), driving in a pair, while
Adley Rutschman went deep for the second straight game and joined Crumpton,
Andrew Greckel and
Alex Kirilloff in the 20-homer club.
Heston Kjerstad contributed a 2-run double.
Team record: 79-46. Next up: Back home for 3 vs Toronto. The Jays, who were our chief competition for the East most of last season, have fallen to last in the AL East at 58-68.
And the deal is now official as Adames and his hefty salary (which the Angels picked up 70% of in the deal) cleared waivers:
Who says you can't go home again? Adames will become the everyday SS, taking over for
Marcus Semien who stopped hitting (average down to .222), and will provide above-average defense at a key position (better than Wander's), something we badly need. The three guys we sent LA's way include a pair of 27-year-olds in complex ball and an 11th-round pick who can't hit.
Also I have made a surprise decision to move
Tylor Megill into the starting rotation. His ratings look good as a starter (65 stuff) with the only drawback 40 stamina so it'll be 5 innings at best for him.
Wennington Romero, who drops out of the rotation, will piggyback/tandem with him.