June 25: at Toronto 3-0 W. WP-H.Smith (7-3, 6.2 6 0 0 0 6). HR-Montes (15). Hagen was hellacious and a couple of 4th innings runs stood up before Montes hit a pinch-homer in the 9th.
June 26: at Toronto 5-1 W. WP-Misiorowski (3-4, 5 5 1 1 2 6). HR-Montes (16), Cermak (17). Mis was in fine form, Isaac had a 2-run single, and Montes and Cermak added solo shots for another comprehensive win.
June 27: at Toronto 1-12 L. LP-Bradley (8-4, 4 9 8 8 2 3). HR-Ramos (9). And they were due for a stinker I guess although it was a surprise with Taj on the mound. Lopez came in and gave up Taj's runners and four of his in a 6-run Toronto 5th.
June 28: vs Boston 5-3 W. WP-Maldonado (2-2). S-Klein (22). Starter-McGee (5 6 1 1 2 7). Tampa Bay lost a 2-0 lead and fell behind 3-2 but a 3-run rally in the 8th secured another win.
June 29: vs Boston 4-0 W. WP-Sheehan (6-5, 5 2 0 0 4 6). S-Horton (1). HR-Caminero (13), Montes (17). Sheehan was solid and Montes drove in 3 with a 2-run homer and RBI single as the Rays keep rolling.
June 30: vs Boston 9-10 L. LP-McMillon (5-2). Starter-H.Smith (5.1 6 6 6 4 7). HR-Doughty (9), Westburg (12), Caminero (14). It looked like Tampa Bay was rolling to another win despite a poor start from Smith as they built a 9-4 lead through 5. But the bullpen failed big-time, with Mercedes (who helped get Boston within 9-8) and McMillon (who allowed 2 runs in the 8th to lose it) the culprits. As a result a massive game from finally-heating-up Caminero (4-5, triple, homer, 2 RBI) went for naught.
July 1: vs Boston 3-9 L. LP-Misiorowski (4.1 6 6 6 0 5, 6 HR). HR-Cermak (18). That's not a typo, Mis gave up six(!) solo homers including four in a five-batter span in the 3rd inning). When he keeps the ball in the park he's great (a 16/70 BB/K ratio in 48 IP) but he's now allowed 16 homers or one every three innings. Ouch.
Team record: 54-31, 8 games up on the now-second place Yankees. Next week: 4 at home against Texas then 3 in Oakland.
Players of the Week:
AL: Willy Adames (SEA), 9-23, 4 HR, 8 RBI
NL: Cayden Wallace (ATL), 9-21, 4 HR, 10 RBI
Players of the Month (June):
AL Batter: Nolan Schanuel (LA), .370-7-20
NL Batter: Michael Harris II (ATL), 333-8-20
AL Pitcher: Parker Coil (SEA), 3-0, 1.78, 48 K in 35 IP
NL Pitcher: Connor Phillips (CIN), 4-0, 1.95, 41 K in 32 IP
AL Rookie: Him:
NL Rookie: Tai Peete (PIT), .300-8-26
Also we had one of our top prospects honored:
Parquet had gotten off to a very slow start after an impressive half-season debut following his being drafted last year but seems to be back on track as our 1B of the future.
MLB News: Former Ray Curtis Mead, traded last winter in the deal that brought back Emmett Sheehan, now has a 20-game hitting streak for the Dodgers and is a solid .287-11-51 for them this season.