With Sunday’s results and seven left to play, the Rays are 1/2 game ahead of the Indians, two of the Rangers, and four of the Royals.
Tag Archives: Wildcard race
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Cobb, Rays Take Game Two 5-1
“That was quick,” a good buddy of mine texted following the Rays 5-1 win against the Orioles Saturday. After the previous night’s six hour and fifty four minute marathon, even the most normally paced game can feel incredibly short. It certainly didn’t hurt that Alex Cobb mowed over Baltimore in his 8-1/3 inning outing, ringing up 12 Orioles on 117 pitches (76 for strikes, 66% K%). In short, Cobb was dazzling.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Beat Orioles in 18 Innings, 5-4
…And with one out in the bottom of the 18th, a mere hour or so after the remaining fans at the Trop celebrated the 14th inning stretch, the Rays began to put together an inning. Forget that they had other opportunities and squandered them; This one felt different. Desmond Jennings, who was initially scratched from the lineup card (and put in the game in the 10th), cranked a double up the left-field line — quickly* getting into scoring position. Then an erratic Bud Norris fell behind Yunel Escobar, ultimately allowing him to reach on a 3-2 walk. With runners on first and second, one of the heroes from the last extra innings game, David DeJesus, came to the plate with one goal in mind — put the ball into play. DeJesus sent an 0-1 hanger into center-field, plating Jennings from second. A few game peripherals are below.
The New What Next: Rays vs O’s, the Final Home Series of the Season
Another day, another important series, as the Rays season ending gauntlet continues. Tampa Bay will welcome the Baltimore Orioles to the Trop for the last time this season, on the heels of an ugly 8-2 loss against the Texas Rangers. The Rays, again, have an opportunity to open up some breathing room in the Wildcard race. Then again, they had a chance to open up room the previous four days, and, well…
The New What Next: Enter the Rangers
You’d think a series victory would leave us feeling some sense of calm, after all Tampa Bay took two out of three from the Twins. But, at this point in the season a series victory isn’t enough — especially when the Rays start the day with a half game lead over the Indians in the Wildcard race. Sunday’s loss left a bitter taste in the mouth of every Rays fan.