The empire strikes back...
The Rays finally found a way to score before the sixth inning in this series and not coincidentally they found themselves winning a must-win game 5-2, evening the ALDS and forcing a deciding Game 5 in 48 hours at the Trop. With two out and nobody on in the opening frame the Rays got two singles and then
Nate Strickland blasted a 3-0 pitch into the RCF seats to give them a quick 3-0 advantage which they never relinquished. The combo of
Ethan McElvain and
Jake Baldino, whom the Rays both acquired in the same deal with Detroit this summer, got them through 6 innings with Baldino notching the win. Unfortunately Baldino pulled his hamstring on the final pitch he threw in the 6th and is done for the playoffs but he departed a winner. Now it's all down to one game and the Rays couldn't feel any better about it with 18-0
Joe Marlette toeing the rubber for them.