Trade time: We swung a deal at the deadline as for the umpteenth consecutive year we weren't sold on sticking with Marco Luciano at 3B so we picked one up, an old face:
Welcome back to the organization Carson Williams. He was dealt to San Francisco back in the winter of 22-23 when he was a prospect but didn't emerge as an MLB regular until his age 26 season in 2030 with Seattle. He was available for free earlier in the year when the Mariners waived him and Milwaukee picked him up where he excelled at 278/369/468 with 13 HR and 1.8 WAR in 75 games. He's a 55/55 hitter with a 55 glove, so just a little above average all-around and an improvement on Luciano. The cost wasn't high in a B-/C+ prospect like Jeffery. Victor Mesa was sent back to Durham to make room.
Game 1: 1-5 L. LP-Bradley (9-7, 5.2 6 3 3 2 7). This team has a hard time hitting on the road and today was no exception with only 3 hits.
Game 2: 1-2 L. LP-Acosta (3-2, 7 4 2 2 1 4). Today they got the hits (9) but couldn't bring anyone home, leaving the bases loaded in both the 8th and 9th innings trailing by one run.
Game 3: 1-3 L. LP-German (7-4, 6 6 3 2 0 5). Same sh*t, different day as the Rays concluded a weekend of pitiful performances, scoring three runs in three games and being swept by an Angels team that was 39-62 coming in. Again they put men on (9 hits and a walk) but couldn't hit when it mattered in the clutch.
Team record: 60-46. With Toronto taking 2 of 3 the Rays have now dropped into second, 1/2 game behind the Jays. Next up: A day off to fly back across the country to Baltimore, where we play against the Orioles.