Tuesday, 4 a.m.
Good thing that Tyler Glasnow’s back looks okay.
After all, the Tampa Bay Rays may have to ride it for a while.
Glasnow returned to the mound Monday night after missing two weeks due to back spasms, and boy, were the Rays glad to see him. They’ve had enough trouble with missing pitchers this year — Shane McClanahan, Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen are all out for the year — to go very long without Glasnow.
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Glasnow threw six innings and allowed just three hits and one run in a 10-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants. He struck out seven. He struggled with his command in his latter couple of innings, but overall, he was in control.
That was pretty much all it took for the Rays, who had a season-high 18 hits and scored in five of the game’s last six innings.
Christian Bethancourt had two singles and a home run in the win. It was his first home run since May 20. Curtis Mead and Harold Ramirez also had three hits. Yandy Diaz, Randy Arozarena and Jose Siri all had two.
It was a night for the youngsters, especially Mead, who had been struggling. Osleivis Bassabe hd two-run single. Reliever Jacob Lopez threw three innings in his major league debut to pick up a three-inning save.
Basabe’s hit may have been especially encouraging, given the news that Wander Franco had gone on the restricted list because of an investigation by Major League Baseball.
The Rays play the Giants again tonight at 9:40 p.m. at Oracle Park. Zack Littell will start for the Rays. The Giants have not announced their starter.