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LBWMF: Rays come from behind to defeat the Phillies, 6-4

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The Maverick not only won a dance-off on Wednesday but he collected 2/3 of his season hits with the Rays last night.

The Tampa Bay Rays came from behind against the Phillies on Friday, and in doing so they notched their American League-leading 19th comeback win of the season.

At 38-20 on the season, the Rays enter play Saturday 18 games over .500 for the first time this season. They also moved one step closer to the top seed in the playoffs with two games left to play. An Oakland loss or a Tampa Bay win next two days of the season will give them the top spot in the AL.

The Rays took the initial lead in the second against Vince Velasquez. Kevin Kiermaier hit a one-out single to center, then got into Velasquez’s head as he jockeyed off first base and then off second when Mike Brosseau walked. After Hunter Renfroe struck out swinging on a fastball well above the zone, Brett Phillips collected the first of two hits, an RBI single to right.

Meanwhile, Charlie Morton got the start and looked dominant from the beginning of his outing, allowing just a walk to Bryce Harper over the first two frames, while striking out four. However, that changed in the third.

Scott Kingery grounded a one-out single to centerfield, then stayed out of an inning-ending double play because he was in motion when Andrew McCutchen hit a grounder to third. Kingery moved up third on a wild pitch before Alec Bohm flicked a single to right, tying the game at one. Harper followed, slashing a ball down the right-field line for a triple/Little League homer. He also crossed the plate when Willy Adames’ relay throw got past Brosseau at third, putting the Phillies up by two.

Kingery struck again in the fifth. The infielder hit a one-out double to left-center before Bohm lined a single to right, moving Kingery up 90 feet. Harper plated a run on a single, his tenth consecutive plate appearance in which he had reached. Morton retired J.T. Realmuto on a groundout to end his outing. All told, Morton was charged with four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight on 93 pitches (64 strikes, 69% strike rate, 22% SwStr%).

Down by three, the Rays began their comeback in the home half of the inning against Velasquez. Joey Wendle reached on an infield hit before Randy Arozarena lined a double to left, moving Wendle to third. After Nate Lowe struck out, Adames singled to center, scoring Wendle and chasing Philadelphia’s starter after 92 pitches. Former Ray Tommy Hunter came on and got Kevin Kiermaier to ground into a fielder’s choice, scoring Arozarena and cutting the lead to just a run.

After Morton, Oliver Drake threw a scoreless sixth, allowing just a walk. In the bottom of the frame, Phillips collected his second hit of the night, punching a homer to straightaway centerfield, his first homer in a Rays uniform, tying the game at four. Phillips was on base in all four plate appearances.

Ryan Thompson pitched the seventh, striking out a pair and setting the stage for one last rally.

Left-hander Adam Morgan took the mound in the bottom of the eighth with the game tied at four. Pinch-hitter Manuel Margot lined to left to start the frame, however, Yoshi Tsutsugo singled to center before Renfroe and Phillips walked to load the bases. Joe Girardi had seen enough of Morgan and called upon Hector Neris. After pinch-hitter, Brandon Lowe popped out, Wendle lined a two-RBI single to right for a 6-4 lead.

That made a winner out of Nick Anderson, who worked the top of the eighth and allowed a two-out walk to Didi Gregorius — just his third walk of the season. Jean Segura hit a pop fly toward the right-field line, and Wendle, playing second, made an incredible over the shoulder catch to prevent a hit and likely a two-out run. John Curtiss followed in the ninth and struck out the side to earn the save.

The New What Next

After closing out Friday night’s contest, Curtiss will open the middle game of the set on Saturday. He will be followed by Ryan Yarbrough (1-4, 3.78 ERA). They’ll be opposed by Zack Wheeler (4-1, 2.67 ERA).

Ryan Yarbrough allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out eight over seven innings on Sunday against the Orioles. Yarbrough gave up two runs in the first inning, yet he settled in and finished his outing with six scoreless frames. Unfortunately, the two runs proved to be the difference in the game as the Orioles’ pitching staff put forth a dominant showing. The left-hander now maintains a 3.78 ERA and 3.33 K/BB over 52-1/3 innings.

Zack Wheeler gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out seven across 5-2/3 innings Monday against the Nationals. Wheeler got into early trouble, allowing two runs in the first inning followed by one in the sixth. He didn’t receive much run support, which resulted in the right-hander’s first loss of the 2020 season. Wheeler owns a 2.67 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with a 3.75 K/BB across 64 innings. He relies primarily on a 97 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in a 97 mph worm-killer sinker with natural sinking action, a hard 90 mph slider, a whiffy 80 mph curveball with sharp downward bite, and a hard 90 mph changeup with a ton of backspin. Key Matchups: Manuel Margot (2-6), Brett Phillips (1-2)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup below.

TNWN: Rays vs. Phillies — a series preview

Rays 9/26/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Arozarena DH
  2. B. Lowe 2B
  3. Adames SS
  4. Tsutsugo 3B
  5. Brosseau 1B
  6. Kiermaier CF
  7. Margot LF
  8. Phillips RF
  9. Zunino C

LBWMF: Rays on the cusp of a division title after defeating the Mets, 2-1

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Nate Lowe plated the deciding run on a homer to center off Jacob deGrom.

Jacob deGrom was fantastic against Tampa Bay on Monday night, yet the Rays pitching staff was able to outpitch both him and the Mets, allowing them to edge out New York, 2-1. Nate Lowe scored both runs in the victory.

With Tampa Bay’s win and the Yankees 11-5 loss in Buffalo, the Rays end the night 17 games over .500 on the season and with a magic number of one to clinch the division. What’s more, given the White Sox loss to Cleveland, the Rays lead the South-Siders by 1-1/2 games for the top record in the American League with five games left to play.

After abruptly leaving his previous start after two innings and three runs with a right hamstring spasm, Jacob deGrom was absolutely dominant, striking out 14 (tying a career-high) over seven frames, while walking two and scattering four hits. Tampa Bay, however, made those hits count.

deGrom struck out the side in the first inning on 10 pitches, although Nate Lowe earned a full-count walk to begin the second. Lowe moved up to third on Joey Wendle’s first-pitch double to the left-center gap before Manuel Margot hit a two-strike sacrifice-fly to center, scoring Lowe for a 1-0 lead.

Two innings later, Lowe blasted a 1-0 solo solo shot to center for a two-run lead. It was Lowe’s fourth homer in 11 games.

On the mound for Tampa Bay, Pete Fairbanks opened his second game of the season and threw 1-2/3 scoreless innings. The right-hander walked Brandon Nimmo to start the first, yet he was erased when he was caught stealing. All told, Fairbanks struck out two and threw 15 of 25 pitches for strikes (60% strike rate).

Ryan Thompson followed Fairbanks and struck out Pete Alonso to get the final out of the second. He took the mound again in the third inning and got the first two batters of the frame before former Rays backstop Wilson Ramos hit a single to right, signaling the end of Thompson’s night. Josh Fleming — who was slated to pitch the bulk of the innings — came in and got the final out of the third and allowed just a grounder in the fourth.

Even so, former Ray Guillermo Heredia battled back from an 0-2 count to earn a free pass, while Ramos hit a single to right on the next pitch, putting two on and moving a runner into scoring position. After Nimmo was hit by a pitch, consequently loading the bases, Jeff McNeil hit an infield RBI single that Willy Adames made a diving stop on, scoring Heredia and bringing the Mets within one. But, J.D. Davis lined to right on the very next pitch, keeping the Rays in front.

Fleming came out in the sixth and got the first two batters before Diego Castillo took over with Alonso, whom he quickly put away, stepping into the box. Castillo came out in the seventh and put down all three batters (all right-handers) in order. Ryan Sherriff worked around a two-out walk for a scoreless eighth, preserving the one-run lead.

Finally, Nick Anderson battled in the ninth to earn the save. The right-hander started the frame with an 11-pitch at-bat against Robinson Cano which resulted in a fly-ball out to deep centerfield. Alonso followed and got ahead of Anderson 3-0 before he struck out. Finally, Andrés Giménez popped out, ending the ball game.

The New What Next

The Rays will look to clinch the AL East title in game two of the series against the Mets on Tuesday. Blake Snell (4-1, 3.05 ERA) will get the start pitching opposite of right-hander Seth Lugo (2-3, 4.34 ERA).

Blake Snell allowed one run on two hits and a walk over 5-1/3 innings against the Orioles on Thursday. He struck out four. Snell was in line for his fifth win of the season in an eventual 3-1 victory, but after he exited the game with a runner on second and one out, Diego Castillo allowed the inherited runner to score. Snell tossed 73 pitches (47 strikes, 64% strike rate) in the strong outing, and carries a 3.05 ERA and a 3.6 K/BB through 44-1/3 innings into his final start of the regular season, on Tuesday. Snell is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one career start (7-1/3 IP) against the Mets.

Seth Lugo allowed six runs on eight hits and no walks across 1-2/3 innings against the Phillies on Thursday. He struck out three. Lugo entered the game having posted a 2.65 ERA over 17 innings since joining the starting rotation on August 25, although he was unable to tame Philadelphia’s bats. The right-hander surrendered four home runs in the brutal outing, two of which came against Bryce Harper. In only 1-2/3 innings of work, Lugo yielded a season-worst eight hits and saw his season ERA balloon to 4.34. He relies primarily on a whiffy 94 mph four-seam fastball and a 94 mph sinker with slight arm-side run and slightly above average velocity, while also mixing in a 79 mph curveball with slight glove-side movement, an 88 mph slider with less than expected depth, and an extremely hard ground ball inducing 88 mph changeup. He has never faced the Rays. Key Matchup: Manuel Margot (5-6, 2B)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs. Mets — a series preview

Rays 9/22/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Tsutsugo DH
  2. B. Lowe 2B
  3. Arozarena LF
  4. N. Lowe 1B
  5. Wendle 3B
  6. Adames SS
  7. Kiermaier CF
  8. Phillips RF
  9. Perez C

Noteworthiness

— The Rays unveiled the 40-man player pool for the 2020 postseason. Below, you will find the player pool, including top overall prospect Wander Franco:

Catchers (4): Mike Zunino, Michael Perez, Kevan Smith, Ronaldo Hernández

Infielders (9): Willy Adames, Mike Brosseau, Vidal Bruján, Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Díaz, Wander Franco, Brandon Lowe, Nate Lowe, Joey Wendle

Outfielders (8): Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier, Manuel Margot, Austin Meadows, Brian O’Grady, Brett Phillips, Hunter Renfroe, Yoshi Tsutsugo

Pitchers (19): José Alvarado, Nick Anderson, Diego Castillo, John Curtiss, Oliver Drake, Pete Fairbanks, Josh Fleming, Sean Gilmartin, Tyler Glasnow, Brent Honeywell Jr., Aaron Loup, Shane McClanahan, Charlie Morton, Trevor Richards, Ryan Sherriff, Aaron Slegers, Blake Snell, Ryan Thompson, Ryan Yarbrough

LBWMF: Rays top the Orioles, 2-1

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Bend, not break.

Tyler Glasnow battled through five innings on Friday night, while Tampa Bay’s bullpen made a one-run lead hold up for the remaining four frames, as the Rays defeated the Orioles on Friday, of 2-1.

At 34-18 on the season, the Rays again have the best record in the American League, as their magic number to clinch the division over the Yankees is down to five with eight games left to play. The Rays enter play with a 95.2% chance of winning the division according to FanGraphs.

Tyler Glasnow got the start Friday against former Ray Alex Cobb and battled, allowing one run on four hits (one home run) and two walks while fanning 10 across five innings on 95 pitches (64 strikes, 67% strike rate, 20% SwStr%) en route to his fourth win of the season.

Glasnow, however, really had to work for his outs, using 50 pitches over the first two frames. The right-hander had a runner at second with one out in the first inning, then really did some heavy lifting in the second. He loaded the bases on a walk sandwiched around a pair of singles. However, Glasnow struck out Bryan Holaday and Andrew Velazquez, then got Cedric Mullins to fly to left, keeping Baltimore off the board.

Getting out of the second inning was a big step from me. Good growth moment, like Kyle would say. I felt, like, calm … nothing sped up.

— Tyler Glasnow

The right-hander’s only mistake of the night came in the bottom of the fourth when he allowed an Austin Hays solo shot to begin the frame. Yet, Glasnow struck out the side afterward (as well as in the first) and surrendered nothing else. Glasnow came into Friday’s contest averaging 14.2 K/9 and raised it to 14.6 by the time his night was over. He again lowered his ERA, this time to 4.21 (3.47 FIP), and maintains an impressive 3.95 K/BB across 51-1/3 innings this season.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay took a first-inning lead with a two-out rally against Cobb. Brandon Lowe singled to right before Mike Brosseau walked. Nate Lowe followed with an RBI single to right, giving Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.

Then in the third, Yoshi Tsutsugo led off the frame with a triple off the top of the wall before Brandon Lowe singled to right, plating a run and giving the Rays a two-run advantage. The former Ray buckled down though and got Nate Lowe to ground into an inning-ending double play.

From there Cobb really found his stride, allowing just a pair of walks in the middle frames and nothing else. He gave up just two runs on four scattered hits while walking three and striking out five.

Tampa Bay was held in check (woo hah) over the final three innings by Baltimore’s ‘pen, which combined to keep the Rays off the board. In the seventh, the Rays were able to load the bases with two out against Paul Fry, but Michael Fulmer — who entered the game in relief of Fry — got Brosseau to hit a comebacker, thus ending the threat.

In his second appearance since coming off the Injured List, Oliver Drake followed Glasnow with a scoreless sixth, allowing just a two-out single. Aaron Loup followed the right-handed LOOGY for an easy seventh with a pair of strikeouts, before Nick Anderson punched out two batters in a perfect eighth.

Ryan Sherriff closed things out with a 1-2-3 ninth allowing him to pick up his first big-league save. Sherriff became the 11th Tampa Bay player with a save this season, tying a franchise record in only 52 games; the big-league record is 12.

The New What Next

Charlie Morton (1-2, 5.14 ERA) will get the start in the fourth game of the five-game set, pitching opposite of Jorge Lopez (2-0, 5.23 ERA).

Charlie Morton allowed three runs on six hits and no walks while striking out four across 4-1/3 innings on Sunday against the Red Sox. The Rays’ offense staked Morton to a narrow lead in the fourth inning, but the advantage quickly slipped away in the top of the fifth inning. On a more encouraging note, the right-hander threw 77 pitches (55 strikes, 71% strike rate) as he continues to steadily build back up to full strength following his month-long absence. Morton is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA in six career starts against Baltimore.

Jorge Lopez allowed one run on five hits and two walks over seven innings on Monday. He struck out three batters. Lopez dominated Atlanta’s lineup all night with the lone blemish — a solo shot by Freddie Freeman in the sixth inning. It didn’t hurt that his offense tallied 14 runs of support for the right-hander. Lopez moved to 2-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 5.23. Lopez relies primarily on a 94 mph sinker with slight arm-side run, a hard 81 mph 12-6 curveball with sharp downward bite, and a 94 mph four-seam fastball with some natural sinking action, while also mixing in a firm 87 mph changeup with slight arm-side fade. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-2), Kevin Kiermaier (2-2, 2B), Manuel Margot (1-1)

You can read about the series in our preview, While the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs Orioles — a series preview

Rays 9/19/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Tsutsugo LF
  2. B. Lowe 2B
  3. Arozarena DH
  4. N. Lowe 1B
  5. Wendle SS
  6. Brosseau 3B
  7. Kiermaier CF
  8. Phillips RF
  9. Perez C

Noteworthiness

— Today is #VoteTeenth — a day where we recognize that there are people across Florida who are free to vote but don’t know it. Help me spread the word that returning citizens with paid fines & fees can register before Oct. 5! #FreeTheVote http://voteteenth.org

LBWMF: Rays sweep doubleheader, punch postseason ticket

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Blake Snell led the way in the first game of the Rays doubleheader against the Orioles on Thursday.

The Tampa Bay Rays swept the doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday — winning 3-1 in the first game, and 10-6 in the second — and in doing so, they punched their ticket to a second consecutive postseason berth; the sixth playoff berth in franchise history.

Next stop: working their way to an AL East title.

The Rays enter play Friday 15 games over .500, and with a 3-1/2 game lead over the second-place Yankees, with nine games left to play. Any combination of six Tampa Bay wins and New York losses will give the Rays a third-ever division title, and their first since 2010.

Willy Adames is undoubtedly the hero of the second game of the day/night doubleheader. Mired in a big slump, Adames broke through in the first inning with a big three-run homer to left-field. That snapped the team’s 0-for-20 stretch with runners in scoring position dating back to Tuesday. The Rays went 5-for-8 in the second game.

Adames later collected another hit and ended the night with two runs and three RBI.

Hunter Renfroe also came up big. After allowing a run to cross the plate in the top of the third inning — with a runner on first, Ryan Mountcastle hit a liner to right that went under the glove of a diving Renfroe for an RBI double — the outfielder crushed a 91 mph center/center fastball to put the Rays up by two.

Yet for the eighth time in nine appearances (and for the sixth consecutive appearance), starter Trevor Richards allowed two crucial runs to cross the plate on a bloop (a leadoff single into right-center in front of a four-man outfield) and a blast (a Rio Ruiz homer to right-center) in the fourth inning — spelling the end of his night.

And Richards departed, things continued to go downhill. Ryan Thompson entered the game in relief and punched out Austin Hays, yet Pat “Cobra Kai” Valaika reached on a two-out single that rolled toward third before Cedric Mullins slashed a single to left. D.J. Stewart followed with a two-RBI double into the right-field corner, giving Baltimore a short-lived two-run lead.

However, Tampa Bay knotted things up in the bottom of the frame. Starter Bruce Zimmerman departed the contest after a Nate Lowe single to left. Right-hander Travis Lakins Sr. took over and got the next two batters, but Joey Wendle blasted a 1-2 offspeed pitch to right, tying the score at six.

Tampa Bay took the lead for good in the fifth inning, which Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) wrote about.

With the contest tied at six, Mike Brosseau started the rally against Cole Sulser by drawing a walk. Brosseau then stole second and Adames hit a grounder toward the bag at third. Adames reached on an infield hit, and Brosseau moved to third on a Rio Ruiz throwing error. Nate Lowe then looped a single to left, putting Tampa Bay ahead 7–6, and chasing Sulser.

Dillon Tate came on and Manuel Margot reached on a bunt single, loading the bases. Kevan Smith then hit a dribble to the third-base side of the mound and Tate’s throw home hit Adames as he scored on the infield single to make it 8–6 Rays. Joey Wendle and Randy Arozarena followed with successive sacrifice flies for a 10–6 advantage.

— Neil Solondz

There is still work to be done, which INF Joey Wendle spoke about in a pre-game media Zoom call.

We’re in a position to do that. If we continue to play good baseball from here on out, that would be our goal. Our short-term goal is to win the division, obviously.

It’s kind of hard to focus on that necessarily as a goal when we don’t feel like we’re playing well, so I think goal one is to kind of turn things around, start playing a little bit better, start putting together good at-bats, good games, good series. Here, (then) a good series when we go to New York (to face the Mets next). I think winning the division would be a product of that.

— Joey Wendle

With a 94.8% chance of winning the AL East (according to FanGraphs), and with the first postseason hurdle out of the way, that work begins in earnest on Friday … that is, assuming there is no imaginary celebratory hangover from all the imaginary champagne bottles they popped Thursday night.

The New What Next

Tyler Glasnow (3-1, 4.47 ERA) will take the mound in the third game of the five-game set, pitching opposite of former Ray Alex Cobb (1-4, 5.03 ERA).

Tyler Glasnow gave up four runs on six hits and a walk over seven innings on Saturday against the Red Sox. He struck out seven. It wasn’t the sharpest outing for Glasnow yet he got just enough offensive support to get the win. Part of Glasnow’s problem was his inability to control the running game —the Red Sox went 6-for-6 on steal attempts against the battery of Glasnow and Michael Perez, an ongoing weakness that other teams could exploit down the stretch if they get the chance. The right-hander will take a 4.47 ERA and 3.84 K/BB across 46-1/3 innings into his next start on Friday. Glasnow is 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA in five starts against the Orioles, and 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA in two starts at Camden Yards.

Alex Cobb coughed up five runs on seven hits — including three homers — and a walk over four innings of work against the Yankees. He struck out three. The right-hander’s first start since August 29 went poorly, to say the least, as New York took Cobb deep twice before he even recorded the first out. It’s the first time in eight outings he’s served up multiple homers, while the rough return to action pushed his ERA above 5.00 for the first time this season. The Rays scored two runs on four hits over four innings of work against Cobb back on July 31, although they were able to chase him after 87 pitches. Overall, Cobb is 0-3 with a 4.61 ERA in five starts against his former team. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (2-4, 2B), Manuel Margot (1-2, 2B), Michael Perez (1-4, 2B), Hunter Renfore (1-2, 2B), Yoshi Tsutsugo (1-2, 2B), Joey Wendle (4-11)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs Orioles — a series preview

Rays 9/18/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Tsutsugo DH
  2. Arozarena LF
  3. B. Lowe 2B
  4. Brosseau 3B
  5. N. Lowe 1B
  6. Margot CF
  7. Renfroe RF
  8. Adames SS
  9. Perez C

Noteworthiness

— After exiting Thursday night’s ballgame due to left oblique soreness, OF Austin Meadows was placed on the Injured List with a left oblique strain. LHP Sean Gilmartin, who had been on the taxi squad, has been selected to take Meadows’ place on the active roster. In order to clear room on the 40-man roster, LHP Cody Reed has been moved from the 10-day IL to the 45-day IL.

— These hats are already available via the Rays online store, and they’re sharp!

LBWMF: Rays plate six runs against World Series champs

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Manuel Margot crossed the plate during the Rays four-run fifth inning. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Ryan Yarbrough returned to form behind a starter, while the Rays offense put up six combined runs across two innings, as Tampa Bay defeated the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, 6-1.

At 31-17 on the season, the Rays are again 14 games over .500 and have a four-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East with 12 games left to play. Tampa Bay has a magic number of four to clinch a playoff spot, and eight to win the Division.

Ryan Yarbrough took over with one out in the second and quickly went to work against the Nationals, working around a Carter Kieboom single and striking out two to get out of the frame unscathed. Even though Yarbrough went just 2-2/3 innings against the Nationals in his last start, the lefty posted 5-2/3 frames of one-run ball on this night, allowing five hits, and hitting a batter while striking out five. He threw 52 of 86 pitches for strikes (60% strike rate, 17% SwStr%). Yarbrough allowed just four hard-hit balls and kept the Nationals off-balance throughout the night.

Yarbrough’s biggest frame came in the fifth inning. After he allowed back-to-back hits with just a 2-0 lead, Victor Robles laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners up to second and third. But Adam Eaton grounded to third with the infield in, and Trea Turner popped to first to end the threat.

Washington was able to get run off Yarbrough in the sixth inning when Juan Soto doubled then came around to score on a pair of groundouts. Even so, Yarbrough held the Nationals to 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Following the game, Yarbrough told Fox Sports Sun that he’s feeling more comfortable with his “rhythm and timing” on the mound.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay took the lead for good in the second inning.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsRays/status/1306010554398584832?s=20

With Ji-Man Choi (hamstring strain) on the Injured List, Nate Lowe has been getting regular playing time. Clearly, the extra reps have made him more comfortable in the batter’s box, as Lowe hit a towering one-out homer to right off starter Aníbal Sánchez. It was his third home run of the season.

Then with two down, Kevin Kiermaier walked, was balked to second, and scored on catcher Kevan Smith’s line-drive base hit to left-center for a 2-0 lead.

They were able to extend their lead in the fifth inning which happened to be the same frame they knocked out a very frustrated Sánchez, whom the ran over all night. It all started when Austin Meadows singled up the middle and swiped second. Next, Mike Brosseau was hit by a pitch, and Yoshi Tsutsugo walked — loading the bases. Manuel Margot followed with a grounder between first and second for an RBI infield hit — putting the Rays up by three and chasing Sánchez. Nate Lowe came through again, earning his second RBI of the night on a free pass against left-hander Ben Braymer, which forced home a run.

https://twitter.com/FOXSportsRays/status/1306031264772820993?s=20

Finally, after Willy Adames went down swinging for the second out of the inning, Kiermaier punched a single through the left side, scoring a pair and pushing the lead to six.

Aaron Loup worked a perfect eighth in relief of Yarbrough before Ryan Sherriff made things interesting in the ninth. Sherriff allowed a pair of singles and a walk with one out and had to be pulled in favor of Nick Anderson. The righty punched out Luis Garcia on three pitches and then got pinch-hitter, Yadiel Hernandez, on four pitches. For Anderson, it was his team-leading fifth save.

Noteworthiness

Tampa Bay will wrap up the penultimate homestand, and the short two-game set against the Nationals, on Wednesday. Pete Fairbanks (4-3, 3.00 ERA) will open and will be followed by Josh Fleming (3-0, 4.12 ERA). They’ll be opposed by Austin Voth (0-5, 7.99 ERA).

Pete Fairbanks allowed an earned run on a hit and a walk over two-thirds of an inning on Sunday against the Red Sox. Fairbanks entered the game with a man on in the fifth inning, yet he allowed an RBI double to Rafael Devers and a run-scoring groundout to J.D. Martinez. Only the latter run went on Fairbanks’ line, but it was enough to saddle him with the loss. The right-hander has uncharacteristically allowed a pair of earned runs over his last three appearances.

Josh Fleming allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five across 4-1/3 innings on Thursday against Boston. The left-hander allowed a pair of home runs that sunk his battleship and accounted for all three of his earned runs. Even though he has yet to take a loss, Fleming has allowed seven earned runs on 13 hits across his last 9-1/3 innings of work (spanning two starts).

Austin Voth allowed three runs on two hits and two walks across 4-1/3 innings against Atlanta on Thursday. He struck out four. Things were looking good for Voth in the early parts of Thursday’s outing as the right-hander retired the first nine batters he faced, while the Nats staked him to a 5-0 lead. Unfortunately, Voth lost his command in the fourth when he walked two and allowed a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman. He struck out Nick Markakis to start the fifth inning but was pulled a batter later after he hit Tyler Flowers. The 28-year-old was charged with one more run when Ronald Acuna hit a two-run homer off reliever Wander Suero. The mainly three-pitch pitcher relies primarily on a 92 mph four-seam fastball and a 79 mph curveball with slight glove-side movement, while also mixing in an 87 mph cutter which has some natural sink.

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below..

TNWN: Rays vs. Nationals — a series preview, part two

Rays 9/16/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Meadows DH
  2. B Lowe 2B
  3. Arozarena LF
  4. N Lowe 1B
  5. Margot RF
  6. Wendle 3B
  7. Adames SS
  8. Kiermaier CF
  9. Perez

Noteworthiness

— Mike Brosseau, Kevin Kiermaier, Nate Lowe, and Manuel Margot each had two hits on Tuesday. Brosseau, Kiermaier, Lowe, and Meadows all had stolen bases.