Game 1: The Rays nearly lost their 23-game win streak in the opener at Publix Park but a couple of clutch homers kept it alive as they made it 24 straight after taking Toronto 5-4 in 10 innings at Publix Park. Rex Bransington pitched well (4.2 3 0 0 0 6) and they led 3-1 going into the 8th with a Danny Morales 2-run single the big hit. Enter the perpetually shaky closer Steve Talbott, who gave up a 3-run homer in the 9th to put Toronto ahead 4-3, only his 2nd blown save of the year although it seems like more. But Beau Bonczek led off the 9th with HR #8 to tie it up and in the 10th Juan Davila walked it off with his third hit of the day and his 13th homer of the season to set off a party atmosphere in Tampa. Steve Kay (3-0) pitched the 10th for the win as the Rays move within one win of tying their own AL record and two from tying the MLB mark.
Game 2: History in the making as the Rays rolled to a 7-1 win over Toronto to equal the team and AL record of 25 consecutive wins. Chad Winger (3-1) was brilliant, taking a shutout into the 9th before giving up a leadoff homer and finishing 8 7 1 1 1 5. Ruben Ramirez was the hitting hero, going 3-3 with a solo homer (#4) in the 2nd to commence the scoring and an RBI double in the 2nd to make it 3-0. Luis Barela later added HR #11.
Game 3: Move over, 1916 Giants - your 135-year-old MLB record of 26 straight wins has been equaled:
It looked like it'd come easy but in the end it didn't as the bullpen nearly squandered an 8-2 lead after 7 innings. Kevin Leonard gave up a 3-run homer in the 8th and then it was time for more Steve Talbott-induced agita as he put two men on in the 9th and brought the tying run to the plate to bring back memories of Friday night before getting a whiff to put the Rays in the record books.
Team record: 27-7. We'll be going for the MLB record at a ballpark that existed when the 1916 Giants set it: Fenway, as we play a 3-game set there. Jimmy Bernal will get the ball for the potential historic game. But did we gain any ground on New York? Nope, the Yankees swept their weekend series as well, resuming non-stop winning after not playing us any longer so they still hold a 1-game division lead.