July 28: Off-Day.
July 29: vs Baltimore 0-7 L. LP-McClanahan (6-9, 4 6 5 5 3 4). Just an ugly night all around as the O's exploded for 4 in the 4th off Mac and the bats had no answer.
July 30: vs Baltimore 4-1 W. WP-Springs (6-8, 5 4 1 1 3 5). S-Bautista (25). The Rays jumped on former teammate Drew Rasmussen (leading the AL in pitcher WAR) early, scoring 4 runs on 9 hits off him and Springs and the pen were excellent in a big bounce-back win.
July 31: vs Baltimore 7-6 W. WP-Robertson (4-3). Starter-Rock (5 5 2 2 4 3). HR-Caminero (19), Paredes (17), Campusano (1). One of the most agonizing losses of the season turned into one of the most thrilling wins as the Rays blew a 5-2 in the late innings only to be rescued with two out in the 9th when
Luis Campusano stepped up as a pinch-hitter on the end of the bench and picked a great time to hit his first homer of the year, a 2-run shot to walk it off. Like yesterday the Rays teed off on a former teammate as they scored 5 off Shane Baz including a 2-run Caminero shot as part of a 3-RBI day. But Hader couldn't retire anyone in the 8th and was charged with 3 runs to put them behind before Campusano got him off the hook.
We made a trade at the deadline, but not to boost the sluggish offense:
Instead we got us a 5th starter who's an upgrade on
Joe Rock, who wasn't that bad for us but wasn't great either. Senga was 6-4, 4.76 for San Diego but his peripherals were better and he was on track for a 3-WAR season. He's arb-eligible and will make a lot next year so this is a likely rental and we'll see what we can get for him in the offseason. The cost wasn't too high as Loftin was raking at Durham and should hit in a utility role as he's done for us at the MLB level, and while Simpson has freakish speed and can hit for average, he has 0 power and isn't a particularly good defensive player. Rock was optioned to Durham and
Luis Contreras recalled to give us an extra bullpen arm until Senga's turn comes up.
August 1: vs LA Angels 5-2 W. WP-Bradley (9-5, 5.2 7 2 2 2 7). S-Adam (2). HR-J.Lowe 2 (11). A big day for J-Lowe who homered twice and drove in 3, backing a well-pitched game from Taj and the pen.
August 2: vs LA Angels 0-4 L. LP-Pepiot (9-8, 5.1 4 2 2 2 5). The bats didn't have it, eking out only four hits and a good Pepiot start was wasted.
August 3: vs LA Angels 4-6 L. LP-McClanahan (6-10, 5 8 6 3 2 7, 3 HR). Mac was sneak-attacked for 6 runs in the first on 3 homers with a Paredes error opening the door for 3 of them score unearned. The offense chipped away and brought the tying run to the plate in the 9th, but it wasn't enough. J.Lowe had a 2-run single for the highlight.
Team record: 61-46. Thanks to some Oriole stumbles and beating them 2 out of 3 the Rays have crept to within 4 1/2 in the division and remain 3 ahead of Boston and 4 ahead of the pack in the first wild card spot, although it seems they've been spinning their wheels of late.
Players of the Week:
AL: Loidel Chapelli (CHI), 10-21, 1 HR, 8 RBI
NL: Jackson Merrill (SD), 13-26, 3 HR, 8 RBI
Players of the Month (July):
AL Batter: Riley Greene (DET), .358-6-20
NL Batter: Jackson Merrill (SD), .385-7-26
AL Pitcher: Blake Snell (BOS), 4-0, 2.70, 33K in 26.2 IP
NL Pitcher: Robert Stephenson (STL), 1-0, 1.69, 10 SV, 13K in 10.2 IP
AL Rookie: Ben Kudrna (KC), 2-1, 0.64, 30K in 28 IP
NL Rookie: Yoshinori Yamamoto (ATL), 1-0, 0.00, 5 SV