Sunday, 4 a.m.
It didn't take much for the Tampa Bay Rays to snap their latest losing streak on Saturday.
Easy as pie, you might say.
All it took for the Rays to win a 5-4 game over the Chicago Cubs was:
-- A solo home run by .225-hitting Nick Fortes in the ninth inning to snap a 4-4 tie. The home run came off of Brad Keller, who had not given up a run since before the all-star break.
--- A save from Pete Fairbanks, who had walked two batters and thrown a wild pitch to put runners on first and third with no one out. Fairbanks got a ground out, which led to Dansby Swanson being out at third. Fairbanks then struck out two straight batters for his 26th save.
-- A tying home run by Junior Caminero, his 43rd of the season.
-- A pinch-hit single by Jake Mangum to tie the game at 3-3.
-- A comeback from a 3-0 deficit.
-- Winning despite walking five batters.
In other words, it was an uphill victory. The way it's been going for the Rays, it'll do. Tampa Bay is now 73-75 on the season.
The Rays had 14 hits. Chandler Simpson, Yandy Diaz, Caminero and Fortes all had two hits.
The Rays had three doubles, a triple and two home runs.
Bryan Baker got the win in relief for the Rays. He's now 4-4 on the season.
The Rays face the Cubs today at 2:20 p.m. at Wrigley Field. Adrian Houser will start for the Rays against Shota Imanaga.