Sunday, 4 a.m.
Every game, he looks stronger. Every game, he looks smarter.
More and more, Taj Bradley looks like as close a thing as the Tampa Bay Rays have to an ace.
Bradley, the 23-year-old pitcher of the Rays, had his best start of the season Saturday afternoon in a 9-1 victory over the New York Yankees. Bradley won his fourth straight decision, throwing seven innings of one-hit, shutout baseball against the potent Yankees.
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Bradley hasn’t allowed a run in his last two starts, and the Rays have won six of his last seven starts. Bradley has led shutouts in three of his last four starts.
In his last eight starts (49 innings), Bradley has a 0.92 ERA and 58 strikeouts.
Bradley gave up a hit to the first Yankee he saw — Ben Rice — but didn’t give up another hit in his seven innings of work.
For once, the Rays had plenty of offense, too. Randy Arozarena had two home runs and four hits. His average is now .212.
Curtis Mead, just called up to fill in while Yandy Diaz is on the restricted list, had three hits.
Alex Jackson had a three-run homer and Isaac Paredes had his 16th homer.
The Yankees ended up with five hits, three of them in the ninth against reliever Kevin Kelly.
The Rays and Yankees play again today at 1:35 p.m.
oat Yankee Stadium, Shane Baz will start for the Rays against Marcus Stroman.