The Tampa Bay Rays continue to boast the MLB’s best record following a series win over the Cincinnati Reds this week taking two out of the three. They now remain solely at the top of the AL East and have a 16-3 record. Although it was a lopsided defeat in the first game, the Rays bounced back and were able to handle the Reds in a great past two games.
Rays Falter in Game One With a 8-1 Loss
Tampa Bay just could not find a way to contain Cincinnati’s scoring in the first game on Monday. It began with a Kevin Newman home run for the Reds in the bottom of the 2nd inning off of rays pitcher Jalen Beeks.
Kevin Kelly pitched next for the Rays but gave up a bases-clearing double to T.J. Friedl in the fourth inning. This made the score an intimidating 4-0 in favor of the Reds and Tampa Bay would not come close again. Friedl would also score Jonathan India from third off a sacrifice hit in the 8th.
Also bringing in runs for Cincinnati was a Kevin Newman RBI single in the 7th inning and an RBI double from Jose Barrero in the 8th inning to round out the Reds’ scoring.
The pitching for the Rays was not great as they gave up hits with lots of base traffic often.
The only scoring for the Rays came on a Josh Lowe home run in the 9th inning. It was too late, too little.
Rays Bats Heat Back Up in Last Two Games
The Rays hit a combined 29 hits over the last two games in Great American Ballpark. Of these runs, 17 came in the second game when they put up four home runs. Two of them came from Taylor Walls and one each came from both Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz. Walls went 4 for 5 in game two with 4 RBIs. Diaz tacked onto it with 3 RBIs of his own on a 2 for 4 night.
Taj Bradley made his second MLB start in the second game. He pitched 5.1 innings giving up just three hits and no runs with nine strikeouts. The Rays pitchers that night combined to give up just four hits total. Bradley’s ERA now sits at 2.61 on the young season.
In game three, the bats continued to strike for Tampa Bay. Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Arozarena, Issac Parades, Jeff Lowe, Manuel Margot, and Walls all had RBIs during the game. Diaz also homered for his sixth of the season. Arozarena went an impressive 3 for 5 as well. He had a great series in Ohio going a combined 7 for 15 at the plate.
Drew Rasmussen started on the bump for Tampa Bay and delivered a gem in game three. He gave up just three hits, no runs, and had seven strikeouts through five innings. Josh Fleming and Pete Fairbanks also pitched for Tampa Bay giving up a combined two hits and having a combined five strikeouts.
The Rays outscored the Reds 18-0 in the last two games of the series
Up Next
The Rays will be back in Tropicana Field this weekend for a home, weekend series against the Chicago White Sox. First pitch for the first game on Friday will be at 6:40 p.m. E.T.