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).