Opening Day:
The Rays got 2030 off on a losing note as the bullpen blew a lead in regulation and then lost it in extras. Luis German pitched great and they took a 3-2 lead into the 7th before Aldry Acosta gave up a 2-run homer. After coming back to tie in the bottom of the frame Tampa Bay then lost when new closer Randy Rodriguez struggled in his second inning of work, giving up a pair of runs that gave Boston the win. The loss overshadowed fine offensive games from Ozzie Albies (2 doubles and a homer) and Yordan Alvarez in his Rays debut (on base 4 times, drove in a run).
Game 2: 2-6 L. LP-Bradley (0-1, 4.2 9 5 5 0 4). HR-Arakawa (1). Taj was hit hard and the Rays were never really in this one.
Game 3: 1-4 L. LP-Evans (0-1, 4.2 3 2 2 2 9). Maybe that 77-85 preseason prediction was on to something - heck, maybe it was optimistic the way the Rays have started the year. Today the bats were silent until a too-little, too-late rally in the 9th which saw a run in and the bases loaded before Marco Luciano grounded into a game-ending double play.
Game 4: 4-0 W. WP-Eldridge (1-0, 6 2 0 0 0 10). The Rays finally got into the win column for 2030 thanks to a dominant effort from Eldridge and a 2-run Haro double in the 4th was the game's big hit. Ozzie Albies continued his torrid start to the season by going 3-3 with an RBI double and two steals.
Team record: 1-3. Next up: Off to Texas for 3 games.