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Art Deco · 06-26-2021, 12:03 PM

Game 1: The Diamondbacks came into Tampa for their first visit to Publix Park with a horrific 8-26 record, and now they're 8-27 after a predictable 16-5 rout by the Rays. Tampa Bay banged out 18 hits, with Jon Jimenez's 4 leading the way along with 2 RBI, Eric Titcombe was 3-5 with a HR (#7) and 3 RBI, Victor de Jesus went 3-4 with 4 runs scored and 2 RBI, and Jaiden Hardway was 2-3 with a walk and a big bases-clearing double that keyed a 9-run 2nd which put the Rays ahead for good. That was because Eric Riley was horrible once again, giving up runs in the first two innings to put them in a brief 2-0 hole, and after he found himself up 9-2 he gave up 3 more runs and couldn't finish the 4th, going 3.2 8 5 5 2 3. He's out of the rotation (and probably headed to Durham). Kevin Kerstetter, who will get the next start when we need him, went 2 1/3 with 5 whiffs for his first win of the year and Edgar Rios, who has been brilliant since being recalled, pitched 3 perfect innings with 4 strikeouts to get his first Rays save.

Game 2: Nate Schultz was brilliant and the Rays bided their time before striking late to take a 4-1 win over Arizona. Schultz went 8 3 1 1 0 11 in a near-duplicate of his previous start against Kansas City and is now 5-0, 2.53 and 47-7 as a Ray during the regular season over the last 2+ years. The gem only took him 95 pitches but he gave way to Kikuo Kawase in the 9th, who struck out a pair around a two-out walk for his 9th save. The game was 1-1 until the 7th when Eric Titcombe continued to shake off his slow start with his 8th homer of the year to break the deadlock, and they tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the 8th off a wild pitch and a Victor de Jesus RBI single.

Game 3: The Rays completed the series sweep against the hapless Diamondbacks with a 6-2 win at Publix Park behind Leo Ortega. The veteran righty was in control, going 6 5 0 0 0 5 to improve to 4-2, 2.96. The bullpen behind him was a mixed bag as Willie Bertone continues to struggle, walking the leadoff man in the 7th and giving up a 2-run homer, but Billy Hoyte and Tim Siqueiros turned in scoreless innings to close it out. The unlikely combo of Mike McKee and Robbie Salazar got the offense going in the 2nd with the former hitting a 2-run double and the latter bringing home another run with a sac fly to make it 3-0, and Jon Jimenez launched HR #10 with a man on to open things up. Jimenez later drove in another run with a fielder's choice.

Team record: 27-9. Next up: An off-day then the Yankees visit for 3 over the weekend.

06-26-2021, 12:03 PM	#1045
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,613	May 7-9, 2035: vs Arizona (3) Game 1: The Diamondbacks came into Tampa for their first visit to Publix Park with a horrific 8-26 record, and now they're 8-27 after a predictable 16-5 rout by the Rays. Tampa Bay banged out 18 hits, with Jon Jimenez's 4 leading the way along with 2 RBI, Eric Titcombe was 3-5 with a HR (#7) and 3 RBI, Victor de Jesus went 3-4 with 4 runs scored and 2 RBI, and Jaiden Hardway was 2-3 with a walk and a big bases-clearing double that keyed a 9-run 2nd which put the Rays ahead for good. That was because Eric Riley was horrible once again, giving up runs in the first two innings to put them in a brief 2-0 hole, and after he found himself up 9-2 he gave up 3 more runs and couldn't finish the 4th, going 3.2 8 5 5 2 3. He's out of the rotation (and probably headed to Durham). Kevin Kerstetter, who will get the next start when we need him, went 2 1/3 with 5 whiffs for his first win of the year and Edgar Rios, who has been brilliant since being recalled, pitched 3 perfect innings with 4 strikeouts to get his first Rays save. Game 2: Nate Schultz was brilliant and the Rays bided their time before striking late to take a 4-1 win over Arizona. Schultz went 8 3 1 1 0 11 in a near-duplicate of his previous start against Kansas City and is now 5-0, 2.53 and 47-7 as a Ray during the regular season over the last 2+ years. The gem only took him 95 pitches but he gave way to Kikuo Kawase in the 9th, who struck out a pair around a two-out walk for his 9th save. The game was 1-1 until the 7th when Eric Titcombe continued to shake off his slow start with his 8th homer of the year to break the deadlock, and they tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the 8th off a wild pitch and a Victor de Jesus RBI single. Game 3: The Rays completed the series sweep against the hapless Diamondbacks with a 6-2 win at Publix Park behind Leo Ortega. The veteran righty was in control, going 6 5 0 0 0 5 to improve to 4-2, 2.96. The bullpen behind him was a mixed bag as Willie Bertone continues to struggle, walking the leadoff man in the 7th and giving up a 2-run homer, but Billy Hoyte and Tim Siqueiros turned in scoreless innings to close it out. The unlikely combo of Mike McKee and Robbie Salazar got the offense going in the 2nd with the former hitting a 2-run double and the latter bringing home another run with a sac fly to make it 3-0, and Jon Jimenez launched HR #10 with a man on to open things up. Jimenez later drove in another run with a fielder's choice. Team record: 27-9. Next up: An off-day then the Yankees visit for 3 over the weekend. Last edited by Art Deco; 06-26-2021 at 02:53 PM.