June 5: Off-Day.
June 6: vs Detroit 3-2 W. WP-Bradley (8-3, 6 5 1 1 2 6). S-Maldonado (3). HR-Caminero 2 (18). Junior stayed red-hot, going 3-4 with a pair of solo homers to back a fine game from Taj.
June 7: vs Detroit 1-4 L. LP-Pepiot (6-4, 6 7 4 4 1 8). HR-Caminero (19). Pepiot gave up a pair of 2-run homers and crickets from the offense aside from Caminero's homer in the 8th.
June 8: vs Detroit 3-8 L. LP-Horton (4-3, 3 8 7 6 3 4). HR-J.Lowe (8), Isaac (18). A rare loss of a home series for the Rays as Horton was beaten to a pulp, wasting a 3-3 day from Isaac with a 2-run homer.
June 9: vs San Diego 3-6 L. LP-Gasser (4-5, 5.2 4 4 4 3 4). HR-Kjerstad (3), Isaac (19). The Rays suddenly can't win at home now after starting the year 22-5 at the Trop. Another lousy start as Gasser gave up 2 more homers.
June 10: vs San Diego 2-5 L. LP-H.Smith (4-5, 5.1 5 5 5 3 7). HR-Kjerstad (4). If someone sees the 2027
Hagen Smith please let us now as the 2028 version struggled again, giving up 2 more homers to make it 21 in only 75.2 IP as the losing continues.
June 11: vs San Diego 4-5 L. LP-Scott (0-1). Starter-Bradley (4.1 6 3 1 2 4). HR-Isaac (20). An absolutely miserable week concluded with the Rays losing their 5th straight, all at home. I noticed Tanner Scott, who took the loss today with 2 runs allowed to blow a 4-3 lead, had been bad lately but I didn't realize he'd been
this bad of late:
15 runs allowed in his last 2 1/3 innings! I didn't know that was possible. Maybe I should stop using him in high-leverage situations.
Team record: 35-32. Still over .500 and still clinging to the third wild card (tied with Houston, 1/2 game up on Seattle), but this might be the last time I can say those things the way this team is going. Next week: On the road for 4 in Cleveland and 3 in Baltimore, so yeah.
Players of the Week:
AL: Ryan Jeffers (CHI), 13-20, 7 HR, 18 RBI (including a 5-hit, 3-homer game during a 3-game stretch where he hit all 7 homers, which may have set an AL record)
NL: Elly De La Cruz (CIN), 14-25, 4 HR, 17 RBI, including hitting for the cycle in a 23-5 win over Detroit.