Sunday, 4 a.m.

Maybe it wasn't the finest comeback in Tampa Bay Rays' history.

But it may have been the fastest.

One moment, the Rays seemed to be dead in the water. Reliever Garrett Cleavinger had just given up three runs (while recording only one out) in the top of the seventh inning, and the Rays trailed 6-3 against San Diego at Tropicana Field.

Then the Rays woke up.

-- Richie Palacious walked.

-- Cedric Mullins singled to right.

-- Taylor Walls singleed to right to load the bases.

-- Yandy Diaz singled to deep center. Mullins scored. Palacios and Walls then scored on a throwing error by second baseman Luis Rengifo. Quick as a finger-snap, the game was tied at six.

-- Junior Caminero walked.

-- With two outs, Chandler Simpson singled to left to drive in the winning run.

It was the Rays' 81st win of the year, meaning the team cannot finish with a losing record.

The Rays had other heroes. Caminero hit his 36th home run. Jonathan Aranda hit his 17th. Bryan Baker recorded is 39th save. Yandy Diaz, Liam Hicks, Simpson and Walls all had two hits. Kevin Kelly won his sixth game.

It was the 33rd comeback win for the Rays, seventh in the major leagues.

The Rays and Padres play again today at 1:40 p.m. at Tropicana Field. The Rays will start Drew Rasmussen (14-5) against Robbie Ray (11-7).

Saturday, 4 a.m.

All in all, Friday was a good day for the Tampa Bay Rays. Wouldn't you say.

Not only did the Rays get the decisive votes from the Hillsborough County Commission to build their new ballpark, they celebrated with a 9-4 trouncing of the San Diego Padres. They became the first American League team to win 80 games this season.

The Rays scored five runs in the fourth inning on the way to their win.

San Diego managed just four hits. However, those were good for four runs -- two coming on groundouts and two more on a home run by Jackson Merrill.

The Rays got home runs from Yandy Diaz, his 20th, and Cedric Mullins, his 14th. Diaz, Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls all had two hits.

Shane McClanahan ran his record to 10-6. He spread three hits over five and two-thirds innings. Relievers Manuel Rodriguez, Kevin Kelly and Steven Matz combined for three and a third innings of one-hit, shutout baseball.

The Rays lead the Yankees by four games and the Red Sox by seven.

Tampa Bay and San Diego play again today at 4:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Nick Martinez (13-4) will start for the Rays against Walker Buehler (8-6).

Saturday, 3 a.m.

Calm down. All Friday night proved is that the guys who aren't going to play for Jacksonville seem to be better than the guys who aren't going to play for Tampa Bay.

The Bucs took in on the chin Friday night, losing 19-0.

Chief among the disappointments was rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, who had led the Bucs to comeback vicotries in his first two games. This time, however, Daniels was just eight of 15 for 57 yards. He was sacked three times and lost a fumble. The Bucs had six punts and a fumble on their first seven possessions.

It was that way for the Bucs, who kept their stars on the shelf once more. Josh Williams led Tampa Bay in rushing, but he had only 21 yards. Eric Rivers’ 24 yards led the receivers.

Granted, the Bucs' defense was a bit better. They gave up 86 yards rushing and 163 passing. But Jacksonville scored on a 61-yard field goal by Cam Little and a 63-yard punt return by Michael Wortham.

The Bucs open their regular season on Sept. 9 against Cincinnati at 1 p.m. at Paycor Stadium.