The 2023 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays - Page 8

Art Deco · 03-22-2024, 02:38 PM

Yes sir...

They blew a 4-1 lead but thanks to Vlad Jr's 10th-inning solo shot the Rays secured a critical Game 1 win in their best-of-3 wild card series with Houston. They'll go with Jose Ramirez tomorrow to try and advance to the ALDS against Boston.

In yesterday's NL Wild Card action:

And in today's wild card games:

Art Deco · 03-22-2024, 03:08 PM

It's never simple...

The Rays had a chance to advance but couldn't hold an early 2-0 lead and fell 4-3 to Houston. Jose Ramirez cruised through 3 with 1 hit allowed and 4 Ks but couldn't hardly get anyone out in the 4th and then gave up a homer to Juan Soto in the 5th which proved to be the difference. Now it'll be up to Emiliano Teodo to try and pitch us into the ALDS instead of seeing the season end.

Elsewhere in wild card action as all four series go the distance:

Pittsburgh advances to play Milwaukee while the Rockies will face the Phillies in the NLDS.

Art Deco · 03-22-2024, 04:24 PM

A weird but fun game:

Injuries are almost never good things but tonight a pair of them propelled the Rays to an ridiculously improbable comeback win as they beat the Astros and advanced to the ALDS against Boston. The comeback itself was incredible (down 4-0 going into the 8th) but what made it crazier is that it came from two players who didn't start the game. Tetsuhisha Hirata came in for Thomas Saggese in the 6th after the latter strained has calf and hit a 2-run homer in the 8th to halve Houston's lead, and then Jeffry Rosa delivered the killing blow, a grand slam in the 9th after replacing an injured Carson Williams, who rolled his ankle. Fortunately neither injury is serious and both should be playing in the ALDS.

In the other AL Wild Card:

Baltimore advances to take on the Angels in the other ALDS.

Art Deco · 03-23-2024, 07:32 PM

Art Deco · 03-23-2024, 07:49 PM

Advantage Rays...

Rookie Garrett Lambert was thrust into the spotlight starting Game 1 of the ALDS and came through in a big way, pitching 5 1/3 nearly spotless innings to lead the Rays to a 3-2 win. The bullpen made it interesting as usual and the offense left some meat on the bone which could have made it more comfortable but they did enough. Now we have a chance to head to St. Pete up 2-0 with Ryan Pepiot getting the ball.

Elsewhere:

Art Deco · 03-23-2024, 08:05 PM

One win away...

In almost a carbon copy of Game 1 the Rays beat Boston 3-1 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-5 ALDS. I don't think anyone had "Rays go into Fenway and hold first-place Boston to 3 runs in 2 games" on their bingo card but that's what happened as Ryan Pepiot was excellent just as he's been all season, Juan Nunez struck out the side in the 8th and Matthew Peguero has re-asserted himself as the closer with his second save in as many days. Patrick Bailey came through with 2 big clutch singles, saving the offense on yet another day they left scads of runners on base. Now Jose Ramirez will try and close it out at the Trop in a couple of days.

Also 2-0 up are the Angels:

Art Deco · 03-23-2024, 08:06 PM

Art Deco · 03-23-2024, 08:24 PM

Not so fast...

Who knew that runs would be at such a premium in this series? Despite allowing only one run Tampa Bay was prevented from sweeping Boston as they were shut down by former Ray Drew Rasmussen and the Red Sox bullpen in a 1-0 loss. They had two big chances to score - once in the 6th when with two out Fernando Tatis Jr. was thrown out at the plate trying to score Vlad Jr's single, and in the 9th when Bobby Marsh doubled with two out only to see Thomas Saggese ground out to end the game. Emiliano Teodo will try once again to close Boston out tomorrow.

Elsewhere, teams staving off elimination was the theme of the day:

Art Deco · 03-23-2024, 08:47 PM

Party time in Tampa Bay...

You want your superstars to come up big when it matters the most, and Fernando Tatis Jr. led the Rays back from a 5-0 first-inning deficit to take an 11-6 win and a 3-1 series win over the Red Sox as Tampa Bay advances to the ALCS. Tatis homered as part of a 3-run bottom of the first to immediately respond to Boston's 5-spot in the top of the inning and then belted a 3-run homer in the 6th to break a 5-5 tie, capping a 4-hit, 5-RBI day. Patrick Bailey added a 3-run shot in the 7th to break it open and the Tampa Bay bullpen went 7 strong innings after a brutal start from Emiliano Teodo. The orgy of runs was quite the shock as the two teams had combined to score 10 runs in the first 3 games of the series, only to follow that up with 8 between them after the first.

And it will be the Angels whom the Rays will face after they took care of Baltimore. Game 1 will likely feature rookie Garrett Lambert for Tampa Bay, and he'll hope to duplicate his excellent ALDS outing.

Art Deco · 03-23-2024, 08:53 PM

And the two bye teams in the NL advance as the Brewers will face the Phillies in the NLCS. Former Ray Nathaniel Lowe, who had 3 HR and 7 RBI in the 5 games, was named series MVP.

Art Deco · 03-25-2024, 09:25 PM

An ugly start...

For a brief moment it looked like the Rays were going to continue their great playoff run. Vlad Jr. hit a 478-moon shot to dead center with a man on and they had a quick 2-0 lead in the first, but by the time they batted in the 2nd they were already trailing and it got worse from there as Ryan Pepiot didn't have it. We'll see how Jose Ramirez fares tomorrow.

Over in the NL, Milwaukee is already halfway to the Series:

Art Deco · 03-25-2024, 10:28 PM

A lot of work to do...

The Rays laid another egg in Anaheim and find themselves in an 0-2 ALCS hole. Like yesterday Vlad Jr. gave them a quick lead, and like yesterday they neither held nor built on that lead. They did bring the tying run to the plate in the 9th and Jeffry Rosa and his prodigious power pinch-hit, but instead of being a hero he struck out to end the game. We'll see if Emiliano Teodo can get things right when the series returns to St. Pete in a couple of days.

Art Deco · 03-26-2024, 08:52 AM

Well that was something...

Not sure what I just saw as the Rays somehow took a wild 12-8 win over the Angels to climb back into the ALCS. After putting 4 on the board to go up 5-1 and cruising into the 7th behind a strong outing from Emiliano Teodo, the bullpen melted down and by the 8th the Angels had gone ahead 6-5. But in a display of determined hitting I've never seen the first six Rays to bat in the bottom of the 8th had hits, the seventh walked, and by the time the dust settled they had scored 7 times on 8 hits to move ahead 12-6. That still wasn't the last word, though, as the Angels made it 7 runs off the Rays bullpen by scoring two more before finally succumbing. We'll see if former Angel farmhand and rookie Garrett Lambert can continue his quality postseason pitching as the Rays attempt to even the series tomorrow.

They'll hope the Phillies are a good omen as they too lost the first two on the road before returning home to take the next two:

Art Deco · 03-26-2024, 09:39 AM

A day late and a dollar short...

The Rays had their chances tonight, leaving 10 men on base, but couldn't get over the hump and now are on the verge of elimination after falling 4-3 to the Angels and falling behind 3-1 in the ALCS. Missed opportunities were the theme of the game as the Rays only managed one run in a bases-loaded, nobody-out situation in the 6th and had two men on with two out in the 9th and a chance to tie with their big RBI guys at the plate in Vlad Jr., but he popped to short to end the game. Ryan Pepiot is now charged with trying to keep the season alive tomorrow in Game 5.

In the NLCS things went differently:

Art Deco · 03-26-2024, 10:15 AM

Not dead yet...

The Rays took a hard-fought 3-2 win to keep their season alive and force the series back to Anaheim. Ethan Holliday, who had been having a largely miserable postseason including leaving 6 men on in yesterday's one-run loss, doubled home Thomas Saggese in the bottom of the 10th for his 3rd hit of the game to walk it off and extend the season. Matthew Peguero also had a heroic outing, keeping the game at 2-2 for 2 2/3 innings with 5 whiffs. When we reconvene in Anaheim it'll be Jose Ramirez trying to force a Game 7.

Art Deco · 03-26-2024, 11:58 AM

Auer power to the rescue...

Mason Auer almost single-handedly kept the Rays' season alive and forced a Game 7 in the ALCS with a pair of homers, including an inside-the-parker for the game-winner in the 8th, accounting for all 3 Tampa Bay runs in a 3-2 win over the Angels. Auer's rare postseason feat on a ball hit into the RCF gap that took a crazy bounce coupled with his elite speed, gave us a Game 7 in one of the most exciting ways possible. Not to be overlooked though was an outstanding start from Jose Ramirez that kept them in it, as well as a dominant 2-out save from Matthew Peguero. Now it'll be the mercurial Emiliano Teodo, he of the great stuff but questionable control, who will try to complete a comeback from 1-3 down for the Rays. With all hands on deck, Teodo will have the shortest of leashes.

Things went the distance in the NLCS as well, with the home team taking all 7 games:

The normally light-hitting Nick Allen was named Series MVP after hitting .346 with 2 HR and 6 RBI in the series, including a 2-run extra-inning walk-off homer in Game 6 to keep the series alive, and another homer in Game 7.

Art Deco · 03-26-2024, 12:16 PM

They did it!...

Down 3-1 and barely on life support, the Rays came back to take the next three from the Angels and advance to the World Series against Milwaukee. The good Emiliano Teodo showed up today with a dominating performance and the bullpen held up while the bats did enough to give them a comfortable lead through most of the game. Carson Williams had his biggest game of the postseason, hitting an RBI double to make it 4-0 and then after LA pulled within 4-2 after 7 he added a key RBI single to provide a much-appreciated insurance run.

We're still looking for our first title in this save, having gotten as far as the 2027 World Series before losing to the Dodgers.

jtsly2000 · 03-27-2024, 10:01 AM

Really enjoying following this save. Go win that first World Series!

Art Deco · 03-28-2024, 07:53 PM

A tough start...

The Rays clawed their way back into this one, tying it in the 9th at 4 after falling behind, but Matthew Peguero gave up 3 straight hits to start the bottom of the 9th and the third one from Ethan Salas brought home the winner for Milwaukee. Early homers from Bobby Marsh and Fernando Tatis Jr gave them a 2-0 lead but Ryan Pepiot lost it in the 4th, unable to retire anyone and giving up 4 runs. The pen held from there until Peguero, who had been outstanding this postseason, couldn't get it done. Jose Ramirez will go tomorrow to try to give us a split before returning to the Trop.

Art Deco · 03-28-2024, 08:13 PM

What a win...

Despite falling behind 5-0, beating outhit 12-6, and having what seemed at least two Milwaukee runners on in every inning, the Rays managed to pull out a 6-5 win and even the World Series thanks to the first two career postseason homers from Ethan Holliday, the second of which off Edwin Diaz in the 10th was the winner. I misspoke about Jose Ramirez's availability for tonight's game as he had only gone four nights ago so the onus fell to rookie Garrett Lambert and although he piled up the strikeouts everything else in between was bad and it was 5-0 when he left. But the bullpen somehow pieced together 6 2/3 scoreless from five relievers who allowed 9 baserunners but none of them to score, including the first two reaching in the bottom of the 10th off Victor Vodnik, who got two strikeouts and a groundout to end it. Ramirez will be the Game 3 pitcher in a couple of nights at the Trop and looking to put the Rays up in the series.

03-22-2024, 02:38 PM	#141
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 9-10, 2029: AL Wild Card Game 1 & NL Wild Card Games 1-2 Yes sir... They blew a 4-1 lead but thanks to Vlad Jr's 10th-inning solo shot the Rays secured a critical Game 1 win in their best-of-3 wild card series with Houston. They'll go with Jose Ramirez tomorrow to try and advance to the ALDS against Boston. In yesterday's NL Wild Card action: And in today's wild card games:

03-22-2024, 03:08 PM	#142
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 11, 2029: AL Wild Card Game 2 & NL Wild Card Game 3 It's never simple... The Rays had a chance to advance but couldn't hold an early 2-0 lead and fell 4-3 to Houston. Jose Ramirez cruised through 3 with 1 hit allowed and 4 Ks but couldn't hardly get anyone out in the 4th and then gave up a homer to Juan Soto in the 5th which proved to be the difference. Now it'll be up to Emiliano Teodo to try and pitch us into the ALDS instead of seeing the season end. Elsewhere in wild card action as all four series go the distance: Pittsburgh advances to play Milwaukee while the Rockies will face the Phillies in the NLDS.

03-22-2024, 04:24 PM	#143
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 12, 2029: AL Wild Card Game 3 A weird but fun game: Injuries are almost never good things but tonight a pair of them propelled the Rays to an ridiculously improbable comeback win as they beat the Astros and advanced to the ALDS against Boston. The comeback itself was incredible (down 4-0 going into the 8th) but what made it crazier is that it came from two players who didn't start the game. Tetsuhisha Hirata came in for Thomas Saggese in the 6th after the latter strained has calf and hit a 2-run homer in the 8th to halve Houston's lead, and then Jeffry Rosa delivered the killing blow, a grand slam in the 9th after replacing an injured Carson Williams, who rolled his ankle. Fortunately neither injury is serious and both should be playing in the ALDS. In the other AL Wild Card: Baltimore advances to take on the Angels in the other ALDS.

03-23-2024, 07:32 PM	#144
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 13, 2029: NLDS Game 1

03-23-2024, 07:49 PM	#145
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 14, 2029: ALDS Game 1 & NLDS Game 2 Advantage Rays... Rookie Garrett Lambert was thrust into the spotlight starting Game 1 of the ALDS and came through in a big way, pitching 5 1/3 nearly spotless innings to lead the Rays to a 3-2 win. The bullpen made it interesting as usual and the offense left some meat on the bone which could have made it more comfortable but they did enough. Now we have a chance to head to St. Pete up 2-0 with Ryan Pepiot getting the ball. Elsewhere:

03-23-2024, 08:05 PM	#146
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 15, 2029: ALDS Game 2 One win away... In almost a carbon copy of Game 1 the Rays beat Boston 3-1 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-5 ALDS. I don't think anyone had "Rays go into Fenway and hold first-place Boston to 3 runs in 2 games" on their bingo card but that's what happened as Ryan Pepiot was excellent just as he's been all season, Juan Nunez struck out the side in the 8th and Matthew Peguero has re-asserted himself as the closer with his second save in as many days. Patrick Bailey came through with 2 big clutch singles, saving the offense on yet another day they left scads of runners on base. Now Jose Ramirez will try and close it out at the Trop in a couple of days. Also 2-0 up are the Angels:

03-23-2024, 08:06 PM	#147
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 16, 2029: NLDS Game 3

03-23-2024, 08:24 PM	#148
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 17, 2029: ALDS Game 3 & NLDS Game 4 Not so fast... Who knew that runs would be at such a premium in this series? Despite allowing only one run Tampa Bay was prevented from sweeping Boston as they were shut down by former Ray Drew Rasmussen and the Red Sox bullpen in a 1-0 loss. They had two big chances to score - once in the 6th when with two out Fernando Tatis Jr. was thrown out at the plate trying to score Vlad Jr's single, and in the 9th when Bobby Marsh doubled with two out only to see Thomas Saggese ground out to end the game. Emiliano Teodo will try once again to close Boston out tomorrow. Elsewhere, teams staving off elimination was the theme of the day:

03-23-2024, 08:47 PM	#149
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 18, 2029: ALCS Game 4 Party time in Tampa Bay... You want your superstars to come up big when it matters the most, and Fernando Tatis Jr. led the Rays back from a 5-0 first-inning deficit to take an 11-6 win and a 3-1 series win over the Red Sox as Tampa Bay advances to the ALCS. Tatis homered as part of a 3-run bottom of the first to immediately respond to Boston's 5-spot in the top of the inning and then belted a 3-run homer in the 6th to break a 5-5 tie, capping a 4-hit, 5-RBI day. Patrick Bailey added a 3-run shot in the 7th to break it open and the Tampa Bay bullpen went 7 strong innings after a brutal start from Emiliano Teodo. The orgy of runs was quite the shock as the two teams had combined to score 10 runs in the first 3 games of the series, only to follow that up with 8 between them after the first. And it will be the Angels whom the Rays will face after they took care of Baltimore. Game 1 will likely feature rookie Garrett Lambert for Tampa Bay, and he'll hope to duplicate his excellent ALDS outing.

03-23-2024, 08:53 PM	#150
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 19, 2029: NLCS Game 5 And the two bye teams in the NL advance as the Brewers will face the Phillies in the NLCS. Former Ray Nathaniel Lowe, who had 3 HR and 7 RBI in the 5 games, was named series MVP.

03-25-2024, 09:25 PM	#151
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 21-22, 2029: ALCS Game 1 & NLCS Games 1-2 An ugly start... For a brief moment it looked like the Rays were going to continue their great playoff run. Vlad Jr. hit a 478-moon shot to dead center with a man on and they had a quick 2-0 lead in the first, but by the time they batted in the 2nd they were already trailing and it got worse from there as Ryan Pepiot didn't have it. We'll see how Jose Ramirez fares tomorrow. Over in the NL, Milwaukee is already halfway to the Series:

03-25-2024, 10:28 PM	#152
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 23, 2029: ALCS Game 2 A lot of work to do... The Rays laid another egg in Anaheim and find themselves in an 0-2 ALCS hole. Like yesterday Vlad Jr. gave them a quick lead, and like yesterday they neither held nor built on that lead. They did bring the tying run to the plate in the 9th and Jeffry Rosa and his prodigious power pinch-hit, but instead of being a hero he struck out to end the game. We'll see if Emiliano Teodo can get things right when the series returns to St. Pete in a couple of days.

03-26-2024, 08:52 AM	#153
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 24-25, 2029: ALCS Game 3 & NLCS Games 3-4 Well that was something... Not sure what I just saw as the Rays somehow took a wild 12-8 win over the Angels to climb back into the ALCS. After putting 4 on the board to go up 5-1 and cruising into the 7th behind a strong outing from Emiliano Teodo, the bullpen melted down and by the 8th the Angels had gone ahead 6-5. But in a display of determined hitting I've never seen the first six Rays to bat in the bottom of the 8th had hits, the seventh walked, and by the time the dust settled they had scored 7 times on 8 hits to move ahead 12-6. That still wasn't the last word, though, as the Angels made it 7 runs off the Rays bullpen by scoring two more before finally succumbing. We'll see if former Angel farmhand and rookie Garrett Lambert can continue his quality postseason pitching as the Rays attempt to even the series tomorrow. They'll hope the Phillies are a good omen as they too lost the first two on the road before returning home to take the next two:

03-26-2024, 09:39 AM	#154
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 26, 2029: ALCS Game 4 & NLCS Game 5 A day late and a dollar short... The Rays had their chances tonight, leaving 10 men on base, but couldn't get over the hump and now are on the verge of elimination after falling 4-3 to the Angels and falling behind 3-1 in the ALCS. Missed opportunities were the theme of the game as the Rays only managed one run in a bases-loaded, nobody-out situation in the 6th and had two men on with two out in the 9th and a chance to tie with their big RBI guys at the plate in Vlad Jr., but he popped to short to end the game. Ryan Pepiot is now charged with trying to keep the season alive tomorrow in Game 5. In the NLCS things went differently:

03-26-2024, 10:15 AM	#155
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 27, 2029: ALCS Game 5 Not dead yet... The Rays took a hard-fought 3-2 win to keep their season alive and force the series back to Anaheim. Ethan Holliday, who had been having a largely miserable postseason including leaving 6 men on in yesterday's one-run loss, doubled home Thomas Saggese in the bottom of the 10th for his 3rd hit of the game to walk it off and extend the season. Matthew Peguero also had a heroic outing, keeping the game at 2-2 for 2 2/3 innings with 5 whiffs. When we reconvene in Anaheim it'll be Jose Ramirez trying to force a Game 7.

03-26-2024, 11:58 AM	#156
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 29-30, 2029: ALCS Game 6 & NLCS Games 6-7 Auer power to the rescue... Mason Auer almost single-handedly kept the Rays' season alive and forced a Game 7 in the ALCS with a pair of homers, including an inside-the-parker for the game-winner in the 8th, accounting for all 3 Tampa Bay runs in a 3-2 win over the Angels. Auer's rare postseason feat on a ball hit into the RCF gap that took a crazy bounce coupled with his elite speed, gave us a Game 7 in one of the most exciting ways possible. Not to be overlooked though was an outstanding start from Jose Ramirez that kept them in it, as well as a dominant 2-out save from Matthew Peguero. Now it'll be the mercurial Emiliano Teodo, he of the great stuff but questionable control, who will try to complete a comeback from 1-3 down for the Rays. With all hands on deck, Teodo will have the shortest of leashes. Things went the distance in the NLCS as well, with the home team taking all 7 games: The normally light-hitting Nick Allen was named Series MVP after hitting .346 with 2 HR and 6 RBI in the series, including a 2-run extra-inning walk-off homer in Game 6 to keep the series alive, and another homer in Game 7.

03-26-2024, 12:16 PM	#157
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	October 30, 2029: ALCS Game 7 They did it!... Down 3-1 and barely on life support, the Rays came back to take the next three from the Angels and advance to the World Series against Milwaukee. The good Emiliano Teodo showed up today with a dominating performance and the bullpen held up while the bats did enough to give them a comfortable lead through most of the game. Carson Williams had his biggest game of the postseason, hitting an RBI double to make it 4-0 and then after LA pulled within 4-2 after 7 he added a key RBI single to provide a much-appreciated insurance run. We're still looking for our first title in this save, having gotten as far as the 2027 World Series before losing to the Dodgers.

03-27-2024, 10:01 AM	#158
jtsly2000 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 172	Really enjoying following this save. Go win that first World Series!

03-28-2024, 07:53 PM	#159
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	November 1, 2029: World Series Game 1 A tough start... The Rays clawed their way back into this one, tying it in the 9th at 4 after falling behind, but Matthew Peguero gave up 3 straight hits to start the bottom of the 9th and the third one from Ethan Salas brought home the winner for Milwaukee. Early homers from Bobby Marsh and Fernando Tatis Jr gave them a 2-0 lead but Ryan Pepiot lost it in the 4th, unable to retire anyone and giving up 4 runs. The pen held from there until Peguero, who had been outstanding this postseason, couldn't get it done. Jose Ramirez will go tomorrow to try to give us a split before returning to the Trop.

03-28-2024, 08:13 PM	#160
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,098	November 2, 2029: World Series Game 2 What a win... Despite falling behind 5-0, beating outhit 12-6, and having what seemed at least two Milwaukee runners on in every inning, the Rays managed to pull out a 6-5 win and even the World Series thanks to the first two career postseason homers from Ethan Holliday, the second of which off Edwin Diaz in the 10th was the winner. I misspoke about Jose Ramirez's availability for tonight's game as he had only gone four nights ago so the onus fell to rookie Garrett Lambert and although he piled up the strikeouts everything else in between was bad and it was 5-0 when he left. But the bullpen somehow pieced together 6 2/3 scoreless from five relievers who allowed 9 baserunners but none of them to score, including the first two reaching in the bottom of the 10th off Victor Vodnik, who got two strikeouts and a groundout to end it. Ramirez will be the Game 3 pitcher in a couple of nights at the Trop and looking to put the Rays up in the series.