The Rays clinched their first postseason berth since 2013 on Friday, when they defeated the Blue Jays, 6-2, in Toronto. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
After five cold and lonely Octobers, the Tampa Bay Rays finally clinched their first playoff berth since the Joe Maddon days with a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays in Toronto. The win, paired with Cleveland’s 7-2 loss in Washington, gave the Rays the final Wildcard spot…and all is well with the world!
From here, Tampa Bay will work toward hosting Wednesday’s Wildcard game. Tampa Bay enters play tied with Oakland (who lost to Seattle last night 4-3) with two games left to play. They must finish a game better than the Athletics to host since Oakland won the season series four games to three.
Tyler Glasnow got the start last night and surrendered two walks while striking out four across 4-1/3 no-hit innings. Glasnow departed with a three-run lead after throwing 66 pitches (35 strikes, 53% strike rate) in his longest outing since being activated from the 60-day IL. He retired the final eight batters he faced. The 26-year-old right-hander has been stellar on the hill of late, tossing 10-1/3 scoreless innings over his last three turns. Glasnow owns a 1.78 ERA on the season to go along with a 0.89 WHIP and a 5.43 K/BB over 60-2/3 innings this season.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay struck first in the third inning against right-hander T.J. Zeuch. Joey Wendle singled hard to right to start the rally. Then, with one out, Tommy Pham lined a two-run homer over the left-field wall for a 2-0 lead.
It was Pham’s 21st home run of the season.
The Rays tacked on another run in the fourth inning after Nate Lowe walked and moved to second on a ground ball. Lowe scored on a two-out single to center by Willy Adames.
Colin Poche took over one out into the fifth and threw 1-2/3 scoreless innings, allowing a pair of hits including a random one out bunt double by Cavan Biggio.
Toronto ultimately made things interesting after Tampa Bay couldn’t capitalize on a bases-loaded opportunity in the top of the seventh. Chaz Roe allowed a single to Vladimir Guerrero Jr to start the inning. Oliver Drake, pitching for the eighth time in nine games, was able to coax a fielder’s choice from Reese McGuire, however, Teoscar Hernandez followed with an opposite-field homer to right, making it a one-run contest.
Yet, Tampa Bay had an answer.
With one out against Derek Law, the sixth Toronto’s sixth pitcher of the night, Travis d’Arnaud hit a bloop single to right and Nate Lowe followed with a ground-rule double over the sidewall down the line in right. Avisail Garcia followed with a single to center past a drawn-in infield, scoring pinch-runner Johnny Davis for a 4-2 advantage.
Both Kevin Kiermaier and Adames struck out, but the ball got away from McGuire for a passed ball, scoring Lowe for a three-run lead.
Austin Meadows capped the scoring in the ninth inning with his 33rd homer of the season, a solo shot to right.
Finally, Emilio Pagan notched his 20th save of the season, getting McGuire to ground out to first, thus securing the win and clinching a playoff berth for the first time since 2013.
From that point on, it was party time for the Rays, who broke out all the cliche — yet succinct — postseason clinching moves, including an, uhh … inspiring speech from Rays skipper, Kevin Cash.
Oakland, Boston, New York, Cleveland, one other club. Were we good enough? You’re goddamn right we are. Let’s fucking do this!
— Kevin Cash
The New What Next
With a home-field edge in the Wildcard game at stake, Ryan Yarbrough (11-5, 4.08 ERA) will get the start, pitching opposite of Trent Thornton (5-9, 5.00 ERA).
Ryan Yarbrough gave up six runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out just two over 3-1/3 innings against the Red Sox on Sunday. Yarbrough endured a disastrous first inning in which he allowed six hits, including a three-run home run, before running into trouble again in the fourth. Expect Yarbrough, who has a 4.08 ERA with 114 strikeouts through 27 appearances this season, to be on a short leash.
Trent Thornton worked five innings and gave up four runs on five hits while striking out three on Sunday against the Yankees. Thornton had previously shined in his previous two turns as a primary pitcher with a sparkling 5.5 K/BB and one run allowed over 10 innings, but the two-run homer he allowed to DJ LeMahieu prevented the right-hander from maintaining momentum. Thornton is 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in four starts against the Rays this season (16 innings of work). Key Matchups: Willy Adames (2-8, HR, 2 RBI), Matt Duffy (1-2), Avisail Garcia (4-7, 1 HR, 4 RBI, BB), Brandon Lowe (3-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Austin Meadows (7-9, 2B, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Eric Sogard (1-2), Joey Wendle (1-3, 2B)
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 9/28/19 Starting Lineup
- Wendle SS
- Meadows RF
- Pham LF
- B. Lowe 2B
- Aguilar DH
- N. Lowe 1B
- Duffy 3B
- Perez C
- Heredia CF
Noteworthiness
— Free on Sunday? Join us at Golden Dinosaurs Vegan Deli for only last regular season watch party, as we celebrate the Rays playoff berth!
Let’s fill the patio with blue — both light and dark — grey, and sunburst yellow. Discounts for Rays fans…oh, and did I mention fun and camaraderie? Help cheer on OUR crew, hope to see you there!
Do they owe is a Wildcard? Of course they do, of course, they do.
— Good thing I already purchased my Rays postseason ticket package. Heaven forbid I have to compete for a seat with some mopey fair-weather fans who can’t drive across a bridge “because it’s too long”.
— All sarcasm aside…