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Art Deco · 11-15-2022, 07:55 PM

The Rays took on a Kansas City team that's been dominating the AL this season and swept them thanks to a couple of clutch Cristian Hernandez homers and the return of the offense. They still had to overcome yet more bullpen shakiness, but did manage to sweep an opponent for the first time in over two months. Best off all the Yankees dropped 2 of 3 in San Antonio so the Rays are tied at the top of the AL East.

A trio of solo homers gave the Rays a 4-2 lead in the 6th inning but the bullpen blew it, allowing runs in the 8th, 9th and 10th before Cristian Hernandez saved their bacon with a two-out, 3-run homer (#11) in the bottom of the 9th to walk off a 7-5 Tampa Bay win over the Royals. Solo shots from Dong-hwan Kim (#9), Raimfer Salinas (#6/17) and Joshua Baez (#18) with the latter two going back-to-back appeared to put the game in the Rays' hands but after Codi Heuer gave up a run in the 8th, Nathan Dettmer blew another save by allowing the equalizer in the 9th and then let the leadoff man homer in the 10th to put KC ahead. Dax Fulton (2-2) finished up the 10th and got the win, while John Swanda went 4 3 2 1 4 6 and endured an interminable 4th inning when Wander Franco made consecutive errors with two out, forcing Swanda to 87 pitches.

The Rays romped in the second game, putting up double digits for the third time in five games (with 41 runs scored total in that span) as they routed the Royals 10-4. Wander Franco and JT Realmuto had RBI doubles in a 3-run first, and then Franco added a 2-run shot (#10) in the 4th. Chris Gutierrez, on a rare power binge of late, contributed a 2-run homer (#7) in the 5th and Kelly Crumpton went solo (#18) in the 6th. Joe Marlette (6-3) labored a bit, but won after throwing 101 pitches in a 5 6 2 2 2 6 outing, and Slade Cecconi finished up with 3 1/3 innings of 1-hit, 5-whiff ball for his first save.

It looked like the pen let them down again in the finale after Mason Feole was charged with a run in the 7th to put the Royals up 3-2 but Cristian Hernandez came through in the clutch again with a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 8th (#12) to give the Rays a 4-3 win and a series sweep. It was a pitching battle before that with Michael Prosecky going 6 5 2 2 3 4, Dax Fulton (3-2) got another win by retiring the final man in the 8th, and Nathan Dettmer didn't blow the save this time, earning his 5th.

Team record: 41-31. Next up: an off-day to fly out west where we'll play 3 against the Angels in Anaheim.

11-15-2022, 07:55 PM	#914
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,075	June 23-25, 2031: vs Kansas City (3) The Rays took on a Kansas City team that's been dominating the AL this season and swept them thanks to a couple of clutch Cristian Hernandez homers and the return of the offense. They still had to overcome yet more bullpen shakiness, but did manage to sweep an opponent for the first time in over two months. Best off all the Yankees dropped 2 of 3 in San Antonio so the Rays are tied at the top of the AL East. A trio of solo homers gave the Rays a 4-2 lead in the 6th inning but the bullpen blew it, allowing runs in the 8th, 9th and 10th before Cristian Hernandez saved their bacon with a two-out, 3-run homer (#11) in the bottom of the 9th to walk off a 7-5 Tampa Bay win over the Royals. Solo shots from Dong-hwan Kim (#9), Raimfer Salinas (#6/17) and Joshua Baez (#18) with the latter two going back-to-back appeared to put the game in the Rays' hands but after Codi Heuer gave up a run in the 8th, Nathan Dettmer blew another save by allowing the equalizer in the 9th and then let the leadoff man homer in the 10th to put KC ahead. Dax Fulton (2-2) finished up the 10th and got the win, while John Swanda went 4 3 2 1 4 6 and endured an interminable 4th inning when Wander Franco made consecutive errors with two out, forcing Swanda to 87 pitches. The Rays romped in the second game, putting up double digits for the third time in five games (with 41 runs scored total in that span) as they routed the Royals 10-4. Wander Franco and JT Realmuto had RBI doubles in a 3-run first, and then Franco added a 2-run shot (#10) in the 4th. Chris Gutierrez, on a rare power binge of late, contributed a 2-run homer (#7) in the 5th and Kelly Crumpton went solo (#18) in the 6th. Joe Marlette (6-3) labored a bit, but won after throwing 101 pitches in a 5 6 2 2 2 6 outing, and Slade Cecconi finished up with 3 1/3 innings of 1-hit, 5-whiff ball for his first save. It looked like the pen let them down again in the finale after Mason Feole was charged with a run in the 7th to put the Royals up 3-2 but Cristian Hernandez came through in the clutch again with a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 8th (#12) to give the Rays a 4-3 win and a series sweep. It was a pitching battle before that with Michael Prosecky going 6 5 2 2 3 4, Dax Fulton (3-2) got another win by retiring the final man in the 8th, and Nathan Dettmer didn't blow the save this time, earning his 5th. Team record: 41-31. Next up: an off-day to fly out west where we'll play 3 against the Angels in Anaheim.