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Art Deco · 02-21-2023, 06:45 PM

Game 1: The Rays returned to action after the All-Star break with a huge series in New York, perhaps their last best chance to make a race out of it in the AL East where the Yankees come in 9 1/2 games up. And Tampa Bay took a good first step, downing them 5-2 in the opener. It should have been a more comfortable win as they banged out 16 hits but ended up leaving 11 on base. Mario Saro was 3-5 with a 3rd-inning homer (#26) and 2 RBI, Luis Barela was 3-4 with an insurance solo shot (#28) in the 9th off former teammate Abelaldo Gray, and Alex Duran had 4 hits including a pair of doubles and an RBI. Greg Bookhart was decent at 4.2 3 2 2 5 4 but the walks drove up his pitch count so Chris Hetzel (3-3) nabbed the win with Steve Talbott notching save #16.

Game 2: Tampa Bay beat the Yankees again, scoring 6 times in the first 3 innings and winning 6-2. Alex Duran had a 2-run shot (#11) in the first, Beau Bonczek added a 2-run homer (#19) in the 2nd, and Luis Barela homered again in the 3rd (#29). Barela's RBI double in the first accounted for the other scoring. Dave Rose (7-6) was excellent at 5.2 5 1 1 1 7 for the win.

Game 3: The Rays' footsteps are getting louder and louder for the Yankees as they made it three straight over New York, going up 8-1 in the 4th and hanging on by their fingernails to end up winning 8-7. A 6-run 3rd inning was decisive with Luis Barela homering for the third straight day with a man on (#30) and Mario Saro adding a 3-run blast (#27) later in the inning. Bob Riley (6-4) gave up 2 runs in the first and then settled in with six shutout innings, but put a couple on in the 8th and the pen let them score giving him a 7.2 9 4 4 1 2 line. Chris Hetzel and Willie Navarro let New York within 8-7 before Mel Mejia closed it out for his first save of the year with Steve Talbott unavailable due to food poisoning.

Game 4: Ladies and gentlemen, we have a race in the AL East as the Rays completed a 4-game sweep at Yankee Stadium with a 10-inning, 4-3 win, slicing New York's division lead to 5 1/2 games. Nelson Bocardo's third hit of the day, a bloop single with 2 out in the 10th, brought home the winner and the victory was credited to Willie Navarro (3-1) who pitched both the 9th and 10th with Steve Talbott still out. Melvin Delgado started and scattered hits at 5.2 10 2 2 0 4 and homers from Juan Viatoro (#11, solo) and Alex Duran (#12, a 2-run shot) provided their scoring in regulation.

Team record: 58-37. Next up: Home for 3 against the Austin Dukes and no time for a letdown.

02-21-2023, 06:45 PM	#2344
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,947	July 14-17, 2050: at NY Yankees (4) Game 1: The Rays returned to action after the All-Star break with a huge series in New York, perhaps their last best chance to make a race out of it in the AL East where the Yankees come in 9 1/2 games up. And Tampa Bay took a good first step, downing them 5-2 in the opener. It should have been a more comfortable win as they banged out 16 hits but ended up leaving 11 on base. Mario Saro was 3-5 with a 3rd-inning homer (#26) and 2 RBI, Luis Barela was 3-4 with an insurance solo shot (#28) in the 9th off former teammate Abelaldo Gray, and Alex Duran had 4 hits including a pair of doubles and an RBI. Greg Bookhart was decent at 4.2 3 2 2 5 4 but the walks drove up his pitch count so Chris Hetzel (3-3) nabbed the win with Steve Talbott notching save #16. Game 2: Tampa Bay beat the Yankees again, scoring 6 times in the first 3 innings and winning 6-2. Alex Duran had a 2-run shot (#11) in the first, Beau Bonczek added a 2-run homer (#19) in the 2nd, and Luis Barela homered again in the 3rd (#29). Barela's RBI double in the first accounted for the other scoring. Dave Rose (7-6) was excellent at 5.2 5 1 1 1 7 for the win. Game 3: The Rays' footsteps are getting louder and louder for the Yankees as they made it three straight over New York, going up 8-1 in the 4th and hanging on by their fingernails to end up winning 8-7. A 6-run 3rd inning was decisive with Luis Barela homering for the third straight day with a man on (#30) and Mario Saro adding a 3-run blast (#27) later in the inning. Bob Riley (6-4) gave up 2 runs in the first and then settled in with six shutout innings, but put a couple on in the 8th and the pen let them score giving him a 7.2 9 4 4 1 2 line. Chris Hetzel and Willie Navarro let New York within 8-7 before Mel Mejia closed it out for his first save of the year with Steve Talbott unavailable due to food poisoning. Game 4: Ladies and gentlemen, we have a race in the AL East as the Rays completed a 4-game sweep at Yankee Stadium with a 10-inning, 4-3 win, slicing New York's division lead to 5 1/2 games. Nelson Bocardo's third hit of the day, a bloop single with 2 out in the 10th, brought home the winner and the victory was credited to Willie Navarro (3-1) who pitched both the 9th and 10th with Steve Talbott still out. Melvin Delgado started and scattered hits at 5.2 10 2 2 0 4 and homers from Juan Viatoro (#11, solo) and Alex Duran (#12, a 2-run shot) provided their scoring in regulation. Team record: 58-37. Next up: Home for 3 against the Austin Dukes and no time for a letdown.