Monday, 4 a.m.
When a team is struggling to score with runners in position, there is just one acceptable alternative.
Just score with runners who aren’t in scoring position.
Jose Siri and Brandon Lowe both hit solo home runs to lead the Rays to a 2-0 win over Cleveland Sunday afternoon. It was the second shutout of the series for the Rays, who evened their record at 48-48 going into the all-star break.
The Rays, once again, sputtered with runners in scoring position. They were 0-4 on Sunday, which made them eight-for-76 in their last nine games. But the long ball saved them. Siri, hitting .203, hit his in the third. Lowe, hitting .248, added his in the sixth.
Ryan Pepiot pitched well for the Rays, going six innings and allowing only two hits. Pete Fairbanks gave up hits to his first two batters in the ninth, but worked his way out of the jam for his 17th save.
The Rays have now won seven of their last eight series.
The Guardians, the best team in the AL, scored just four runs and had 19 hits in the three games.
Because of the all-star break, the Rays are off until Friday when they visit the Yankees at 7:05 p.m.