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Art Deco · 10-05-2023, 10:12 AM

Game 1: After throwing away a 5-game lead and letting the Yankees tie them for first, the Rays came into this critical series against New York in need of a big win to stop the rot and they got one, blowing out the Bronx Bombers 8-1. Vinny Miranda, who normally pitches well enough to lose, was very sharp today in improving to 5-11 after going 6 5 1 1 0 5 and a diversified offense supported him. Luis Barela's 2-run single in the 1st set the tone, Tony Vasquez chipped in a 2-run homer (#26/33) and Jose Machado added a solo shot (#9).

Game 2: The Rays made mincemeat of the Yankees for the second straight day with a 10-4 win over their good buddies. A 4-run 2nd highlighted by a 3-run Sung-min Yang blast (#18) and a 5-run 4th keyed by a Nesty de la Rosa grand slam (#11) made sure Tampa Bay would open up a 2-game lead in the division and Randy Mastropietro went to 15-5 with a 5 8 2 2 2 2 outing.

Game 3: Tampa Bay continued to make a statement in this showdown series by besting New York for the third straight day, although this time it was a more tense affair in a 3-1 win. Ben Hilton (8-4) turned in his third straight brilliant start at 6 2 1 1 3 7 and Steve Talbott pitched around a couple of singles in the 9th for his 33rd save. Tony Vasquez got all the runs needed with a 2-run homer (#27/34) in the 1st and Alex Brown's RBI single in the 8th provided a key insurance run after the Yankees pulled within 2-1 the inning previous.

Game 4: Back in 1978 the Yankees famously went into Boston in early September for a big 4-game series with first place on the line and clobbered the Red Sox in a sweep which became known as "The Boston Massacre". Fast-forward 75 years and the Rays pulled off their own version ("The Bronx Beatdown?") after their 5-0 win over the Yankees completed their own 4-game sweep in which they outscored New York 26-6. The hero today was Dave Rose (13-7), who had gone through a rough patch of late but turned things around with a complete-game 3-hit shutout, walking 2 and fanning 10 on 121 pitches. It was the first CG shutout for Rose this year after leading MLB with 3 last season and the fifth of his career. Dantel Chinchilla's 2-run homer in the 3rd (#4) was the big blow and Jesus Avalos added one of his own in the 7th (#25) to give Rose enough leash to finish out the game as the Rays now find themselves 4 games up on New York.

Team record: 83-49. Next up: Back home for 3 against Austin, where they'll have to guard against a letdown.

10-05-2023, 10:12 AM	#2572
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,403	August 28-31, 2053: at NY Yankees (4) Game 1: After throwing away a 5-game lead and letting the Yankees tie them for first, the Rays came into this critical series against New York in need of a big win to stop the rot and they got one, blowing out the Bronx Bombers 8-1. Vinny Miranda, who normally pitches well enough to lose, was very sharp today in improving to 5-11 after going 6 5 1 1 0 5 and a diversified offense supported him. Luis Barela's 2-run single in the 1st set the tone, Tony Vasquez chipped in a 2-run homer (#26/33) and Jose Machado added a solo shot (#9). Game 2: The Rays made mincemeat of the Yankees for the second straight day with a 10-4 win over their good buddies. A 4-run 2nd highlighted by a 3-run Sung-min Yang blast (#18) and a 5-run 4th keyed by a Nesty de la Rosa grand slam (#11) made sure Tampa Bay would open up a 2-game lead in the division and Randy Mastropietro went to 15-5 with a 5 8 2 2 2 2 outing. Game 3: Tampa Bay continued to make a statement in this showdown series by besting New York for the third straight day, although this time it was a more tense affair in a 3-1 win. Ben Hilton (8-4) turned in his third straight brilliant start at 6 2 1 1 3 7 and Steve Talbott pitched around a couple of singles in the 9th for his 33rd save. Tony Vasquez got all the runs needed with a 2-run homer (#27/34) in the 1st and Alex Brown's RBI single in the 8th provided a key insurance run after the Yankees pulled within 2-1 the inning previous. Game 4: Back in 1978 the Yankees famously went into Boston in early September for a big 4-game series with first place on the line and clobbered the Red Sox in a sweep which became known as "The Boston Massacre". Fast-forward 75 years and the Rays pulled off their own version ("The Bronx Beatdown?") after their 5-0 win over the Yankees completed their own 4-game sweep in which they outscored New York 26-6. The hero today was Dave Rose (13-7), who had gone through a rough patch of late but turned things around with a complete-game 3-hit shutout, walking 2 and fanning 10 on 121 pitches. It was the first CG shutout for Rose this year after leading MLB with 3 last season and the fifth of his career. Dantel Chinchilla's 2-run homer in the 3rd (#4) was the big blow and Jesus Avalos added one of his own in the 7th (#25) to give Rose enough leash to finish out the game as the Rays now find themselves 4 games up on New York. Team record: 83-49. Next up: Back home for 3 against Austin, where they'll have to guard against a letdown.