[Art Deco]

Game 1: Tyler Glasnow had a hard time with the San Diego lineup and the Rays continued their inability to score outside of the HR in a 5-2 loss to the Padres. Glasnow, who had been on quite the roll, was touched for runs in the first two innings and after the Rays had tied the game on HRs from Nick Gonzales (#7) and Keibert Ruiz (#15) in the 4th, gave up another run in the 5th to allow San Diego back in front, and then allowed a 2-run HR to Cesar Marin (with Lewin Diaz aboard, who had doubled) to give us our final 5-2 score. Glasnow was 6 7 5 5 2 2, with the lack of strikeouts standing out. The two homers were all the Rays could muster against soft-tossing lefty Reid Detmers, who otherwise befuddled them in an 8 6 2 2 0 6 outing. Alec Bohm celebrated his return to MLB and the Rays lineup by going 0-3 with a strikeout, dropping his BA below .200 and making him a true 2026 Rays first baseman. Aaron Ashby had 2 shutout innings in relief and Nick Anderson got through the 9th. Baltimore was idle so the lead is 8 games.

Game 2: So which was the worst part of today's game? That they lost 6-4 and have now dropped 6 of 8? That the big hit of the game that erased a 3-1 Rays lead in the 6th inning was a 3-run HR by Lewin Diaz? That Baltimore won to cut the lead to 7 games? Or that Jack Perkins had to leave the game with what turned out to be a torn flexor tendon and will be out 10-11 months? It all went wrong today for the Rays. They took a 3-1 lead through 5 on a Spencer Torkelson RBI single and sac flies from Patrick Bailey and Wander Franco, but it all fell apart in the 6th when Diaz took Asa Lacy deep with 2 on and the Padres added another run. Perkins took over for Lacy, who went a not-so-great 5 7 4 4 4 2 and went 1 1/3 with 3 whiffs before having to leave with that major injury. San Diego then added 2 more in the 8th off Ben Bowden, who's been struggling of late. Judson Fabian hit HR #24 to cut it to 6-4 in the 8th but they could do nothing against Padres closer Andres Munoz and the downward spiral continues.

August 19: Placed P Jack Perkins on the 60-day IL with a torn flexor tendon, optioned IF Nick Loftin to AAA Durham; activated 2B Vidal Brujan from the 15-day IL and added P Deivy Florido to the active roster.

It's a shame about Perkins, he was pitching so very well. Hopefully he can come back with his stuff and contribute late next season. Also a shame about Loftin, it's not every day guys hitting .542 are demoted, even if it was only 24 at-bats. But it's not a shame that Brujan is back although Nick Gonzales filled in well in his stead. Florido, acquired in the Lewin Diaz deal, gets a chance to go on the active roster after all. He'll be used in long relief.

Game 3: Holy marathons, Batman! The Rays snapped out of their funk with a 5-4 win over San Diego in 19 innings (!). Brandon Marsh tripled in Triston Casas in the bottom of the 19th to pull out the win after they were sent to extras when Judson Fabian hit HR #25 with 2 out in the 9th after San Diego took the lead in the top of the inning when Luis Campusano singled in a runner that had reached with 2 out when Marsh dropped a fly ball. Earlier Wander had hit #28 off MacKenzie Gore and the Rays had a 2-0 lead through 5 for the second straight day. But Matt Manning, who was one-hitting the Padres through 5, had it all unravel when San Diego picked up 3 runs in the 6th. Hunter Bishop hit #21 in the bottom of the 6th to tie it up before the drama in the 9th. I said before the game that Deivy Florido would pitch long relief, but I had no idea he'd immediately get the chance as he went 4.1 4 0 0 1 2 before I took him out with 2 out in the 18th after he went into the red. Ben Bowden came in despite showing as somewhat tired and he ended up with the win after amazingly striking out all 4 Padres he faced. Baltimore lost too, so the lead goes back up to 8.

Team record: 81-38. Next up: A much-needed off-day before the Rangers come to town for a weekend series.