Rays win wild game against Toronto

by Gary Shelton on May 14, 2025

in general

Caminero had grand slam in 9th./TIM WIRT

Wednesday, 4 a.m.

Is it over yet? Are the comebacks finally complete?

Cut and bleeding, the Tampa Bay Rays held onto win a up-and-down battle against the Toronto Blue Jays, 11-9. One game may not have had as many highlights as the Rays’ fall-from-ahead, come-from-behind victory.

The Rays won, ultimately, because of a grand slam by Junior Caminero in the top of the ninth inning. The Blue Jays, who had trailed 4-0 and 6-3, came close to one more comeback I the ninth, scoring two runs and getting two more runners on base before Mason Montgomery closed it out for his first career save.

Tampa Bay survived it all — including two home runs by Daulton Varsho, a shaky ninth by Pete Fairbanks, six runs from the bullpen and four home runs allowed.

On this night, however, the Rays had plenty of offense. It started in the third, when the Rays scored four times. Brandon Lowe singled in two runs and Jonathan Aranda drove in two more with his sixth home run.

The Jays came back with homers by Bo Bichette and Varsho.

The Rays scored in the sixth when Kameron Misner scored on an error. Danny Jansen, who played in Toronto last year, homered in the 7th.

The Jays weren’t done, however.  Ernie Clement homered in the seventh, and Varsho hit his second homer on the first pitch he saw from Edwin Uceta.

The Jays were three outs from winning then, but Travis Jankowski walked. He moved to third on a single by Jansen. Rookie Chandler Simpson singled up the middle to tie the game at 7.

After Lowe singled to load the bases, Caminero jumped on the fifth pitch he saw and drove it into the left field bleachers for his eighth home run.

The Jays added two more in the bottom of the ninth, but Montgomery came on to retire Varsho to win the game.

The Rays and Jays play again today at 7:07 p.m. Ryan Pepiot will start for the Rays against Chris Bassitt. 

Home run balls cost Rays in loss

by Gary Shelton on May 12, 2025

in general

Rassmussen fell to 1-4.

Monday, 4 a.m.

For the Tampa Bay Rays, it changed in four pitches.

Two of them, unfortunately, left the ballpark.

The Rays took it on the chin Sunday, losing a 4-2 decision against the Milwaukee Brewers. It was Milwaukee’s first win of the three-game series.

This time, the Rays seemed to be in good shape in the fourth inning. Christian Yelich drove a pitch over the left-field fence, and four pitches later, William Contreras drove a pitch over the right field fence.

The two home runs were the 55th and 56th shots of the season, good for second-worst in the majors, one behind the Baltimore nOrioles.

The Rays had their threats, but again, they were awful with runners in scoring position. They were one-for-eight. The Rays were three-for-24 with runners in scoring position for the series.

Jonathan Aranda had the one RISP hit. For the day, he had three hits. Chandler Simpson had two doubles.

Drew Rasmussen went five innings and allowed three runs. Rasmussen has given up six homers in his last four games.

The Rays are off today and play at Toronto on Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. Shane Baz will start for the Rays against Jose Berrios.

Jankowski’s walk-off leads Rays

by Gary Shelton on May 11, 2025

in general

Bradly had a strong start for Rays./TIM WIRT

Sunday, 4 a.m.

Maybe you might have suspected this from Yandy Diaz.

Ninth inning. Two outs. A runner on second.

And a single to left.

Maybe you would have believed Jonathan Aranda. Or Brandon Lowe. Or Junior Caminero. Or someone else.

But Travis Jankowski?

Really?

Jankowski, a 33-year-old journeyman who is with the Rays largely because of injuries, slapped a 2-1 pitch to left field to drive in Kameron Misner with the winning run in a 3-2 victory over Milwaukee. Jankowski had 20 at bats with the Rays before the hit.

Jankowski has 1,542 at bats but had never had a walk-off hit before, and is a lifetime .236 hitter. This year, he is hitting .286 with the Rays. He had two hits and a sacrifice fly on Saturday.

It was the Rays’ third walk-off win of the year. Misner had one against Colorado and Aranda had one against the Yankees.

The Rays were in position to win because of a strong start by Taj Bradley, who went six innings and allowed two runs  and four hits. Pete Fairbanks got the win after working out of a bases-loaded situation in the ninth. Two of the three base-runners reached on errors.

Tampa Bay fell behind 1-0 on a home run by Jackson Chourio, but came back for a 2-1 lead on an RBI single by Taylor Walls and the sacrifice fly by Jankowski.

The Rays and Brewers wrap up their three-game series today at 1:40 p.m. at Steinbrenner Field. Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays against Chad Patrick.

Walls’ bases-loaded walk leads Rays

by Gary Shelton on May 10, 2025

in general

Walls drew a key walk./TIM WIRT

Saturday, 4 a.m.

Sometimes, you have to sneak up on home plate.

For the Tampa Bay Rays, it doesn’t matter. After the kind of skid they’ve been on, any victory beats the alternative.

The Rays found creative ways to score throughout a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night. They scored on an error. They scored on a defensive interference play. They scored on a bases-loaded walk. Oh, yeah. They scored on a solo home run by Brandon Lowe.

Again, after a blown 7-6 loss to Philadelphia, it was a preferred way to finish.

The Rays were tied 3-3 in the eighth inning when they collected singles by Christopher Morel and Junior Caminero. After that,  Jansen and Walls both walked on 3-2 pitches to force in the winning run.

In the sixth inning, Caminero was on first and Morel on third. in a botch steal attempt, Morel was interfered with by Brewers’ third baseman Caleb Durbin.

The Rays’ first run came when Jose Caballero singled to right field. The ball skipped past outfielder Jackson Chourio, allowing Walls to score from first base.

The Rays had just seven hits and left seven on base. They were 0-11 with runners in scoring position.

Starter Zack Littell went six innings and gave up one earned run. Eric Orze earned his second save.

Caminero had two hits for the Rays. Tampa Bay is 17-21 on the season.

The teams play again today at Steinbrenner Field at 4:10 p.m. Taj Bradley will start for the Rays against Tobias Myers.

Rays blow lead, lose once again

May 9, 2025 general

Friday, 4 a.m. How did the Tampa Bay Rays lose this game? Their starting pitcher, Ryan Pepiote, allowed just two hits to a hot-hitting Philadelphia Phillies team. Their offense, which has struggled as of late, had 14 hits and built a 5-1 lead through seven  innings. Usually, either of those statistics adds to success for […]

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Baz joins the Rays in their slide

May 8, 2025 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. In a season going South, there are a lot of ways to dissect the latest thumping of the Tampa Bay Rays. Shane Baz seems like a good place to start, however. After all, Baz had been a rock for the Rays in the early going of the season. He had started the […]

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Phillies maul Rays in return home

May 7, 2025 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. How long is it going to take for the Rays to treat Steinbrenner Field as if it is their home ballpark? Evidently, more than 22 games. The Rays returned home to Steinbrenner Tuesday night, and the result was as awful as normal. The Rays were clubbed by the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-4, and […]

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Rays offense clicks in Yankees’ win

May 5, 2025 general

Monday, 4 a.m. The Tampa Bay Rays finally rang up the scoreboard Sunday afternoon. Still, they had to hang on to win, The Rays led 7-2 after seven innings Sunday, the most runs they’ve scored in their last 10 games. Alas, they had to hang on by their fingernails to win a 7-5 victory over […]

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Rays rally to snap losing streak

May 3, 2025 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. Stuck is a seemlingless endless losing streak, the Tampa Bay Rays stole one Saturday. The Rays swiped six bases Saturday afternoon, setting up an eighth-inning comeback that led the Rays to a 3-2 vicotr over the New York Yankees. The Rays, who have struggled offensively, scratched out two runs in the top […]

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Rays smothered by Yankees again

May 3, 2025 general

Saturday, 3 a.m. When things are going this badly, it just takes one mistake. One error. One blown scoring opportunity. One home run allowed. And another loss. That’s what it’ like for playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. One slip, and then comes the fall. Take Friday night, for intance. The Rays lost again — […]

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