Game 1: 4-2 W (11). WP-Gau (5-0). S-Fairbanks (16). Starter-Castillo (6 2 0 0 5 6). Tork was 3-5 with 2 RBI including a single to score the go-ahead run in the 11th after Jovani Moran blew a 2-0 lead in the 8th by giving up a Bobby Witt Jr 2-run shot.
Game 2: 6-9 L. LP-Scott (1-3). Starter-Rasmussen (2.1 5 3 3 4 0). Rays took a 5-0 lead in the 3rd before Ras gave 3 back and departed early, then Tanner Scott gave up a grand slam to former Ray Brandon Lowe in the 6th to complete the collapse. Tork and Mead drove in a pair in a losing cause.
Game 3: 3-2 W (10). WP-Moran (3-2). S-Fairbanks (17). Starter-McClanahan (5 3 2 2 2 5). Wander singled in Josh Lowe, who had singled and stolen second, in the 10th to win it and take the series.
Team record: 47-47, still 1 1/2 back in the AL East, and 1 out of a wild card. Next up: We travel to LA to play 3 against the Dodgers, with ex-Ray Luis Patino scheduled to pitch the second game.
MLB News: 2-way star Shohei Ohtani of the Angels will miss 6 weeks with a herniated disc.
Down on the farm: Jose Contreras, an OF on one of our DSL squads, had a remarkable week. He did this in one game:
then he did this the next day:
I don't care what level of pro ball we're talking about here - 7 homers in 2 games is extraordinary and a feat I'm not sure has even been done in pro ball (certainly not in the majors). Contreras is a middling prospect with only potential 40 contact and 45 power so this will likely be the highlight of his professional career, but still - wow.