Already in trouble...
I could blame the bullpen as
Hayden Juenger and
Jose Alvarado combined to blow the lead in the 8th and I wouldn't be wrong, but the real culprit in today's Game 1 ALDS defeat was the offense, which could only scrape out four hits and one run. Which is a shame because after
Jeffrey Springs left in the 3rd inning with wrist soreness (which will keep him pitching a Game 5 if we should be so lucky),
Waylin Santana shrugged off being left out of the postseason rotation and came through with 5 brilliant 1-hit, 7-whiff innings to make
Kevin Alcantara's 2nd-inning solo homer stand up. And it should have been 2-0 in the 5th when
Shea Langeliers led off with a triple but his teammates with the weak noodles couldn't get him home. So now
Jose Ramirez will have to not only hope to pitch well but to get some actual run support if the Rays want to head to Anaheim tied up.
In the other ALDS:
