Game 1: 5-1 W. WP-Rasmussen (8-11, 6 3 1 1 3 6). S-Fairbanks (28). HR-DeLoach (16), Torkelson (41/45), Mead (24). Ras was solid, DeLoach led the game off with a homer and the Rays rolled to victory.
Game 2: 5-2 W. WP-Castillo (8-10, 6 7 2 2 2 5). S-Ruegger (1). HR-Mead (25). Castillo was solid and Mead was the hitting star with a 2-run homer and bases-loaded walk as the Rays moved into sole possession of first place in the AL East.
Game 3: 6-4 W. WP-McClanahan (13-3, 7 6 4 4 0 11). S-Fairbanks (29). HR-Torkelson (42/46), Franco (29). It looked like "here we go again" with Mac, who has struggled mightily in September, after he gave up 4 runs in the first 2 innings but he got locked in and the bats rode to his rescue as Wander was 3-4 with the homer and Tork drove in a pair with a single and a homer.
Team record: 82-73. The Yankees were swept in St. Louis so the Rays are now 2 games up on New York as we head into the season's final week. Of course with the tiebreaker favoring the Yankees it's effectively a one-game lead. The home portion of the schedule is over, and next up we'll play 4 games in Baltimore before closing the season out with 3 in Toronto.
Here's a look at the MLB standings, including a crazy 4-way race in the AL Central where it looks as though all 4 of those teams will make the playoffs:
Not only do the Rays have a good shot at the division they also have a shot at a bye if they can stay ahead of Seattle, but they'll have to do it on the road.