[Art Deco]

Game 1: A tough loss for the Rays, who got a taste of their own come-from-behind medicine as the Mets rallied in the late innings to beat them 5-3. The Rays jumped out to a 3-0 lead off Taijuan Walker in the 1st on an RBI triple from Brandon Lowe, an RBI single from Ji-Man Choi (who was 4-4 today) and an RBI groundout from Manuel Margot. They had more chances to score in the next couple of innings but failed to do so, and it came back to haunt them in the end. For a long time it didn't like that way, though, as Tyler Glasnow was dealing with a 1-hitter through 5. But he started running out of gas with Dominic Smith hitting a 2-run shot off him in the 6th and the Mets tied it off him in the 7th so he finished 7 6 3 3 1 9. With Peter Fairbanks and Nick Anderson tired and Diego Castillo behind held for the 9th, Andrew Kittredge got the call in the 8th and gave up a 2-run shot to Pete Alonso and that turned out to be the difference. Ryan Thompson had a 1-2-3 9th. Fortunately for the Rays the Yankees continue to spiral downward, losing their 8th straight to Baltimore thanks in part to Adley Rutschman's first MLB homer so the lead stays at 2 games.

May 15: Optioned P Ryan Thompson to AAA Durham, recalled P Shane McClanahan from AAA Durham.

Let the Shane McClanahan era begin! The rookie lefty will get the start tonight against the Mets after looking great in his first two starts at Durham, in which he whiffed 18 and walked 4 in 13 1/3 innings with a 2.70 ERA.

Game 2: Shane McClanahan had a regular-season debut to forget as the Rays lefty phenom was battered by the Mets in a 7-2 loss. McClanahan gave up a 2-run homer to Dom Smith in the 1st inning, a 2-run blast to James McCann in the 2nd, and then a 2-run double to McCann in the 3rd as he went a disastrous 2.1 6 7 5 2 4 on only 47 pitches before being pulled. Collin McHugh, Trevor Richards and Cody Reed were great in long relief but the horse had long left the barn. Ji-Man Choi and Willy Adames (now leading the club with 25 RBI) drove in the two runs with singles in a game the less said about, the better. The Yankees won in Baltimore to pull back within 1 game.

May 16: Placed P Collin McHugh on the 15-day IL with elbow inflammation, recalled P Ryan Thompson from AAA Durham.

McHugh should only miss the 15 days, but I doubt we'll miss him. Thompson comes right back up.

Game 3: After sweeping one New York team the Rays were swept by the other as the Mets handed the Rays a tough 4-3 loss. The Rays had leads of 2-0 and 3-1 but Michael Wacha had his worst start as a Ray against the team he pitched for last season, allowing 3 runs in the 5th to put the Mets in front with what would be the last scoring of the day. He finished a rough 4.2 6 4 4 3 3. Andrew Kittredge, Ryan Thompson and Diego Castillo went 5 1/3 scoreless to keep them in the game but the offense could only muster a lone single over the final 5 innings and only four hits for the day. Things started well as the Rays scored two quick runs in the 1st when Manuel Margot singled, stole second, went to third on an Austin Meadows single, and then scored on a wild pitch before another wild pitch sent Meadows to 3rd and he scored on Brandon Lowe's sac fly. After the Mets made it 2-1, Mike Brosseau restored the two-run lead in the 4th with his 3rd homer of the year, but that was the end of the offense for Tampa Bay today. The Yankees lost to Baltimore so the Rays remain a game up in the standings, although they're tied in the loss column.

Team record: 24-18. Next up: an off-day then 3 games in Baltimore.

MLB News: The first significant trade of the season saw the Twins send OF Max Kepler and rookie C Ryan Jeffers to their division-rival Chicago White Sox for starter Lance Lynn.