Tuesday, 4 a.m.
How many times can a team blow a game?
How many leads can it squander?
Four times, the Tampa Bay Rays took a lead over the Baltimore Orioles Monday at Camden Yards. Every time, they let the O's roar back, until the final time resulted in a 9-7 win in 13 innings.
It ended on a swing by Colton Cowser, hitting .191 at. the time. Baltimore scored sevven times in their last three innings, including four in the bottom of the 13th.
It was the second straght game the Rays have lost on a walk-off homer.
The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the sixth. They led 4-2 in the 11th, 5-4 in the 12th and 7-5 in the ninth.
After a solid start by Shane McClanahan, not many of their relievers were effective. Jesse Scholtens gave up four (three earned) in the 13th. Ian Seymour gave up an unearend run in the 12th Hunter Bigge gave up an earned run by sixth.
Twice in extra innings, the Rays had a two-run lead.
Chandler Simpson had three hits, Jonathan Aranda and Richie Palacios each had two. Victor Mesa Jr. had his first hit, a two-run homer in the 11th.
Shane McClanahan went 5 1/3 innings of three-hit, shutout baseball. Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish went six shutout innings.
The O's had nine hits in seven innings off Rays' relievers.
The Rays and Orioles play again tonight at 6:35 p.m. at Camden Yards. Griffin Jax will start for the Rays against Shane Baz.