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).