Transaction: Placed Taj Bradley on the 60-day IL with his torn meniscus, recalled 2B Victor Mesa from Durham.
Game 1: 7-0 W. WP-Buckman (2-1). Starter-Eldridge (2.1 2 0 0 3 1). HR-Haro (16), Mesa (4), Franco (9). Eldridge had to leave with an oblique strain which will keep him from his next start but he and 4 relievers combined on a 4-hit shutout while Mesa and Franco dominated on offense, combining to go 7-10 with 2 HR and 6 RBI.
Game 2: 6-7 L. LP-Okuda (7-2). Starter-Acosta (5 6 5 5 1 4, 3 HR). HR-Solano (14). A frustrating loss for the Rays as they scored 4 in the 6th go ahead 6-5 after Acosta had allowed 3 homers in a rare poor start, only for the bullpen to give up 2 right away in the 7th and despite putting men on in the final innings they couldn't get them home.
Game 3: 2-1 W. WP-Evans (7-5, 6.1 2 1 1 1 11). S-R.Rodriguez (25). HR-Franco (10). The two teams combined for only five hits, with Wander collecting 2 of them including a 2-run homer in the 4th which stood up as the winning hit to back a truly dominant outing from Donye.
Team record: 71-56. The Jays lost 2 of 3 at home to the Cubs so the Rays' division lead grows to 1 1/2 games. Next up: A day off to travel cross-country as we head to Oakland for 3.
Transactions: Claimed reliever Colby Holcombe on waivers from the Cubs, he's rated 60/65/50 and served as the Chicago closer for awhile with 13 saves but had a rough 5.24 ERA. With the Bradley injury we needed another pitcher and Victor Mesa was returned to Durham despite a big game (he'll be back in a few days when rosters expand).
Also this big news:
From last year's bemoaned reliever who always seemed to give up the big hit to this year's all-star starter it's been quite a ride for Acosta, and we're going to keep him around for a few more years.
MLB News: Philly's Alex Bregman, who spent time with the Rays in 2023-24, hit his 400th career homer.