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Art Deco · 07-21-2023, 08:30 PM

The Rays suffered a shocking sweep at the Trop thanks to some lousy pitching, especially the bullpen which blew late-inning leads in the first two games.

The opener was particularly galling as Tampa Bay held an 8-3 lead through 6 innings and were on cruise control, only to lose 9-8 in 14 innings. Enter the Rays bullpen with Nick Wallerstedt giving up a 3-run homer with two of Danny Morales' men on, leaving Morales with a 6.1 7 5 5 3 3 line and letting Oakland within 8-6, Devon Williams remained un-clutch by giving up a run in the 8th and then Mike Moore coughed up a solo homer in the 9th to let Oakland tie it. The A's finally broke through against Chris Ericson (0-1) in the 14th when he gave up a homer. Although the offense went dark over the final 8 innings they did put 8 on the board before that led by Alex Rivas who was 4-6 with 2 doubles, a homer (#1) and 3 RBI while Wander Franco was 3-6 with a 2-run homer (#2). Jake Westfall (#2) and William Contreras (#1) also went deep. But spots 4-7 in the lineup were a combined 0-23, hurting them in extras.

The Rays came back three times on Oakland in the second game, once to go ahead and twice to tie it up late after they blew the lead, but the pitching just couldn't get the A's out when it counted and they lost again in extras, 10-9 in 12 innings. Chris Ferguson was tagged for 4 runs in the 1st but the Rays eventually came all the way back to go up 7-6 in the 6th on a 2-run Claus Hoppenbrouwers double. Ferguson finished a rough 5.1 8 5 5 1 3 although he settled in after the first. Once again it was the amazing-ratings-but-terrible-results Devon Williams who faltered, allowing the tying run in the 8th. Oakland then went ahead in the 10th only for the Rays to tie it up in the bottom of the inning, went ahead again in the 11th before Wander Franco hit a dramatic 2-out homer in the Rays' half to tie it once again but finally couldn't answer Oakland's run off Randy Morris (0-1) in the 12th. Joe Stack was 3-6 with HR #2 and 2 RBI, Wander had 3 hits and Luis Berumen 4 but all for naught thanks to the poor pitching.

At least they lost the finale in a different way as the Rays' bats were exhausted from doing all that work for nothing the previous two days and they fell 5-2. Joe Marlette (0-2) turned in his second subpar start in three outings this year, going 6 9 5 5 1 5.

Team record: 4-6. At least we're not digging a hole for ourselves in the division as Boston and Toronto are leading at only 6-5.

07-21-2023, 08:30 PM	#1218
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,085	April 9-11, 2035: vs Oakland (3) The Rays suffered a shocking sweep at the Trop thanks to some lousy pitching, especially the bullpen which blew late-inning leads in the first two games. The opener was particularly galling as Tampa Bay held an 8-3 lead through 6 innings and were on cruise control, only to lose 9-8 in 14 innings. Enter the Rays bullpen with Nick Wallerstedt giving up a 3-run homer with two of Danny Morales' men on, leaving Morales with a 6.1 7 5 5 3 3 line and letting Oakland within 8-6, Devon Williams remained un-clutch by giving up a run in the 8th and then Mike Moore coughed up a solo homer in the 9th to let Oakland tie it. The A's finally broke through against Chris Ericson (0-1) in the 14th when he gave up a homer. Although the offense went dark over the final 8 innings they did put 8 on the board before that led by Alex Rivas who was 4-6 with 2 doubles, a homer (#1) and 3 RBI while Wander Franco was 3-6 with a 2-run homer (#2). Jake Westfall (#2) and William Contreras (#1) also went deep. But spots 4-7 in the lineup were a combined 0-23, hurting them in extras. The Rays came back three times on Oakland in the second game, once to go ahead and twice to tie it up late after they blew the lead, but the pitching just couldn't get the A's out when it counted and they lost again in extras, 10-9 in 12 innings. Chris Ferguson was tagged for 4 runs in the 1st but the Rays eventually came all the way back to go up 7-6 in the 6th on a 2-run Claus Hoppenbrouwers double. Ferguson finished a rough 5.1 8 5 5 1 3 although he settled in after the first. Once again it was the amazing-ratings-but-terrible-results Devon Williams who faltered, allowing the tying run in the 8th. Oakland then went ahead in the 10th only for the Rays to tie it up in the bottom of the inning, went ahead again in the 11th before Wander Franco hit a dramatic 2-out homer in the Rays' half to tie it once again but finally couldn't answer Oakland's run off Randy Morris (0-1) in the 12th. Joe Stack was 3-6 with HR #2 and 2 RBI, Wander had 3 hits and Luis Berumen 4 but all for naught thanks to the poor pitching. At least they lost the finale in a different way as the Rays' bats were exhausted from doing all that work for nothing the previous two days and they fell 5-2. Joe Marlette (0-2) turned in his second subpar start in three outings this year, going 6 9 5 5 1 5. Team record: 4-6. At least we're not digging a hole for ourselves in the division as Boston and Toronto are leading at only 6-5.