The Tampa Bay Rays’ struggles continue as they fell behind 2-0 in the first inning en route to a 5-4 loss in Game 2 of the three-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox.
The Rays would rally in the ninth, loading the bases against Brandon Workman; forcing him out of the game with an eight-pitch walk by Travis d’Arnaud. Marcus Walden subsequently issued a four-pitch walk drawing Tampa Bay within a run before getting Austin Meadows to ground out to first base to end the game.
Red Sox ace Chris Sale looked shades of his former self throwing 116 pitches over six innings, tallying 10 strikeouts. His only blemish being a two-run home run by Travis d’Arnaud in the third.
The Rays bullpen would come undone late with Colin Poche allowing a go-ahead home run to pinch-hitter Christian Vázquez to lead off the seventh. The Red Sox would then load the bases with no one out in the eighth against Diego Castillo before plating two more inherited runs against Adam Kolarek.
The loss marks the Major League-leading 25th for the Rays’ bullpen. The team is now tied with Boston at 1.5 games back of the Oakland Athletics for the second Wild Card spot.
The Tampa Rays will look to avoid a sweep in a getaway day game on Wednesday at 12:10 p.m. EST. David Price and Charlie Morton are the scheduled starters.
Injury Updates
Yandy Diaz (foot contusion) was placed on the 10-day Injury List before tonight’s game as Matt Duffy was activated. Diaz fouled a ball off his right foot in the ninth inning of Monday night’s game.
Kevin Kiermaier was also placed on the 10-day Injury List with what was diagnosed as a left thumb sprain. Surgery will not be required in what is expected to be 10-15 day absence. Said Kiermaier concerning the diagnosis:
“It’s the best news I could have received given what happened and what I’ve dealt with the last couple years,’’ he said. “If I have to miss maybe a week and a half or so … if I can be back as soon as I can, I’m the happiest man on the planet because I feel like I really dodged a bullet.’’
Rays Trade Rumors
Per Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Rays have contacted the Texas Rangers regarding the availability of All-Star designated hitter Hunter Pence. The 36-year-old veteran is enjoying his best season at the plate since 2013 sporting a triple-slash line of .290/.347/.575 with 22 home runs. Pence is currently playing on a one-year, $2-million contract with the Rangers.
Morosi also reported the that the Rays are in contact with the San Francisco Giants with regards to their relievers. He cites Joey Wendle and Mike Brosseau as potential need-for-need options that may fit the Giants’ current interests. The Rays’ interest is likely to include high leverage arms such as Will Smith, Sam Dyson, and Tony Watson.
The Major League trade deadline is July 31 at 4 p.m EST.
News and Notes
• Since the beginning of the four-game series in New York last Monday, Travis d’Arnaud has 12 runs batted in over an eight-game span. The rest of the team has 13 combined.
• Over that same span, the Rays have struggled with runners in scoring position to the tune of 9-for-54 losing 6-of-8 games.
• Austin Meadows‘ 13-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-for-5 performance. He left three runners in scoring position and stranded five runners on the night.
• Matt Duffy made his 2019 season debut starting at third base. He went 2-for-3 with a double and a strikeout.
