Friday, 4 a.m.
At the time, the Tampa Bay Rays looked to be in trouble.
They were coming off a three-game losing streak. Their bats had looked like they were the size of toothpicks. And now, another pitcher (Ryan Yarbrough) was in pain in one of those we're-out-of-starters games.
Still, the Rays pulled out a 10-5 victory because of an adaptable bullpen and, for once, an impressive batting order.
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The Rays, who had scored just two runs in being swept by Houston, scored 10 against the Blue Jays. They had five hits with runners in scoring position (they had one in 20 at-bats against the Astros). In three games against Houston, they had 15 hits. Thursday night, they had 12.
The top five batters in the order were 11-for-23 with nine RBI against Toronto.
“A lot of good at-bats," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "(Jose) Berrios has pitched us tough. It felt like everyone had some big days. Johnny,
(Aranda), Randy (Arozarena), Wander. A lot of impacting of the baseball."
The Rays are one game behind the Blue Jays in second place in the wild-card standings,
After Yarbrough was hurt, with the score tied at 3-3, the Rays brought in Garrett Cleavinger, Sean Armstrong, Brooks Raley, Colin Poche and Dustin Knight. Only Knight gave up runs on a two-run homer by Whit Merrifield.
The Rays play Toronto again tonight at 7:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Jeffrey Springs will start for the Rays against Mitch White.