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Art Deco · 08-20-2022, 05:25 PM

The first big series of the season went the Rays' way as they swept the Yankees at Tropicana Field to open up a 2 1/2-game lead in the division over New York (which has now lost 6 straight) and Boston (which has won 8 in a row), but they suffered a key injury in the finale.

The opener saw Joe Marlette make his Rays debut and it was a winning one as Tampa Bay held on to win 6-5. Marlette (1-0) gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in a rough 2nd inning but was untouchable outside of that, finishing 5 6 3 3 2 8 and flashing his overpowering stuff at times. That 2nd put the Rays behind 3-1 but they immediately responded in the bottom of the frame with a Kelly Crumpton grand slam (#6). JT Realmuto added an insurance solo shot (#5) in the 6th and it proved to be huge as Kevin DiCostanzo gave up a run in the 9th but still notched his 4th save.

A 2-2 game in the 6th inning turned into an 11-2 laugher for the Rays as they beat the Yankees again. The Chrises (Gutierrez and Seise) had back-to-back RBI singles to put Tampa Bay ahead to stay and by the time it was over the Rays had 17 hits (including one from everyone in the lineup). Dong-hwan Kim homered (#2), Seise was 3-4 with 2 RBI and JT Realmuto doubled in a pair. Michael Prosecky meanwhile shut New York down with the exception of a 2-run Austin Riley homer as he went 8 6 2 2 0 5 to improve to 3-0, 2.91.

The Rays shook off a poor Shane Panzini start and came back to beat the Yankees 7-4 to complete the sweep. Panzini now has alternated two good starts with two bad ones as he was 3.1 7 4 4 3 2 and Tampa Bay found itself behind 4-2 early. But the bullpen was brilliant, combining for a 5.2 1 0 0 1 8 line the rest of the way with the win going to human good-luck charm Gavin Bruni (2-0 already, 7 wins in 23 relief appearances last year) and Kevin DiCostanzo saved again, #5. Wander Franco was the star on offense, launching a 2-run homer (#3) in the first and adding a 2-run single in the 6th which proved to be the game-winner. Jose Aguilar gave the Rays some breathing room with a 2-run shot (#1) in the 8th. The news wasn't all good though: Aguilar was only in because after Franco's homer in the 1st Andrew Greckel was hit on the arm with a pitch and suffered a bone marrow edema which will sideline him for six weeks. We called out Yankee pitcher Yoendrys Gomez for the plunking and suggested to the league he be suspended, but nothing is likely to come of it. Aguilar and Andy Kelley will get the bulk of Greckel's playing time.

Team record: 14-6. Next up: An off-day then Kansas City comes to town for 3.

08-20-2022, 05:25 PM	#808
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,726	April 19-21, 2030: vs NY Yankees (3) The first big series of the season went the Rays' way as they swept the Yankees at Tropicana Field to open up a 2 1/2-game lead in the division over New York (which has now lost 6 straight) and Boston (which has won 8 in a row), but they suffered a key injury in the finale. The opener saw Joe Marlette make his Rays debut and it was a winning one as Tampa Bay held on to win 6-5. Marlette (1-0) gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in a rough 2nd inning but was untouchable outside of that, finishing 5 6 3 3 2 8 and flashing his overpowering stuff at times. That 2nd put the Rays behind 3-1 but they immediately responded in the bottom of the frame with a Kelly Crumpton grand slam (#6). JT Realmuto added an insurance solo shot (#5) in the 6th and it proved to be huge as Kevin DiCostanzo gave up a run in the 9th but still notched his 4th save. A 2-2 game in the 6th inning turned into an 11-2 laugher for the Rays as they beat the Yankees again. The Chrises (Gutierrez and Seise) had back-to-back RBI singles to put Tampa Bay ahead to stay and by the time it was over the Rays had 17 hits (including one from everyone in the lineup). Dong-hwan Kim homered (#2), Seise was 3-4 with 2 RBI and JT Realmuto doubled in a pair. Michael Prosecky meanwhile shut New York down with the exception of a 2-run Austin Riley homer as he went 8 6 2 2 0 5 to improve to 3-0, 2.91. The Rays shook off a poor Shane Panzini start and came back to beat the Yankees 7-4 to complete the sweep. Panzini now has alternated two good starts with two bad ones as he was 3.1 7 4 4 3 2 and Tampa Bay found itself behind 4-2 early. But the bullpen was brilliant, combining for a 5.2 1 0 0 1 8 line the rest of the way with the win going to human good-luck charm Gavin Bruni (2-0 already, 7 wins in 23 relief appearances last year) and Kevin DiCostanzo saved again, #5. Wander Franco was the star on offense, launching a 2-run homer (#3) in the first and adding a 2-run single in the 6th which proved to be the game-winner. Jose Aguilar gave the Rays some breathing room with a 2-run shot (#1) in the 8th. The news wasn't all good though: Aguilar was only in because after Franco's homer in the 1st Andrew Greckel was hit on the arm with a pitch and suffered a bone marrow edema which will sideline him for six weeks. We called out Yankee pitcher Yoendrys Gomez for the plunking and suggested to the league he be suspended, but nothing is likely to come of it. Aguilar and Andy Kelley will get the bulk of Greckel's playing time. Team record: 14-6. Next up: An off-day then Kansas City comes to town for 3. Last edited by Art Deco; 08-20-2022 at 05:27 PM.