Game 1: The Rays used a couple of longballs to pull out a 4-3 win over the Guardians at Publix Park with Jon Morales' 34th of the year walking it off in the 9th after Ruben Ramirez tied it in the 8th with his 18th, a solo shot. Juan Davila earlier hit #22 and Nicola Grieco pitched well (6.2 6 2 2 1 4) and deserved a win but left a 2-2 game. Melvin Delgado (10-8) pitched the 9th and picked up the relief win.
Game 2: Tampa Bay easily handled Cleveland 8-4 but officially lost the division for the first time in 25 seasons when the Yankees beat Baltimore. Ruben Ramirez drove in 3 with a single and a 2-run homer (#19), Mario Saro was 2-4 with 2 RBI including HR #41, and Luis Barela chased home two more runs. Greg Bookhart (11-2), in his final tuneup before pitching the wild card game next week, got the win going 5 7 3 2 3 3.
Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep of Cleveland and kept their hopes of winning 100 games alive (they'll have to sweep the Yankees on the final weekend) with another easy win 8-2. At age 35 and with 5 MVP awards already sitting on his mantel, it's almost surreal to say that Luis Barela is having his best-ever season this year. But after going 4-4 today with a pair of homers he now has career-highs in that category (54), RBI (140), WAR (9.4, matching his 2044 total and with three games left to increase or decrease), runs scored (137) and slugging (.645, just ahead of 2048's .643 and also subject to change). Just another remarkable season in a remarkable career. As for the game in addition to Barela's blasts they got homers from Mario Saro (#42), Nelson Bocardo (#12) and Jon Morales (#35). Dave Rose (11-13) closed his checkered season on a high note, going 5 3 2 2 1 10 for the win.
Team record: 97-62. Next up: An off-day then three games in the Bronx to close out the regular season, games that a couple of weeks ago looked like they might have meant something but now don't, other than for team and personal milestones.
MLB Playoff Update: The lone remaining race, for the 2nd AL Wild Card and a trip to Publix Park, looks to be Oakland's to lose as they hold a 2-game lead on the Angels with 3 left.
Down on the farm:
Granqvist was our 5th round pick this year and looks like a steal with his pro career having hit the ground running (or raking). And his projections back it up: 70 contact, 55 power, 65 avoid Ks and 70/50/60 defensively across the outfield.