The Tampa Bay Rays once again found themselves one out away from closing out a victory when Chicago White Sox catcher James McCann homered off of Emilio Pagan tying the game at 1-1 and sending it into extra innings. The Rays would go on to lose 2-1 in 11 innings.
Yoan Moncada was walked by Adam Kolarek to lead off the top of the 11th. This prompted Rays manager Kevin Cash to go to the bullpen for Chaz Roe who was just activated from the 10-day Injury List.
Roe surrendered the winning run on a dribbler to right field by José Abreu that split the shift scoring Moncada all the way from first base as Rays infielders and fans alike looked on helplessly. The 2-1 lead would stand as Former-Ray Alex Colomé closed the game out for the Chicago White Sox.
The Rays bullpen recorded their Major League-leading 24th loss of the season. The team has dropped 5-straight following its miraculous comeback in New York against the Yankees on Monday night.
Struggles with Runners in Scoring Position
The Rays’ struggles with runners in scoring position have plagued them all week. They finished Saturday’s extra-innings loss 0-for-8 after a 2-for-7 mark in Friday night’s 9-2 defeat. The team was 1-for-24 during the 4-game series in New York.
Since Travis d-Arnaud’s 9th-inning heroics Monday night, Tampa Bay is 2-for-30 with runners in scoring position over a 5-game span. They have lost all 5 games.
Garcia’s Seventh Inning Blast
Avisaíl García produced the game’s first run with a towering home run off of starter Lucas Giolito in the bottom of the 7th inning. The solo shot stood as the potential game-winning run until McCann’s 2-out, 9th inning equalizer.
The blast hit the Rays’ 2008 AL East Champions banner seated well above the left-field wall. Statcast officially declared a distance of 459 feet. Readers and viewers can judge for themselves:
You need to see where this lands. pic.twitter.com/X4eizHcjz3
— MLB (@MLB) July 21, 2019
Kevin Kiermaier
Centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier would lead would leave the game in the 8th inning after injuring this left thumb on a headfirst slide that resulted in an infield hit.
The Rays are calling it a thumb strain in their preliminary diagnosis with more tests coming on Sunday. An extended absence appears possible and would be a devastating blow to the team’s playoff chances.
