Tuesday, 4 a.m.
For most the life of the franchise, the Tampa Bay Rays have been offensively challenged. They have won games by pitching, by defense, by matchups. But seldom have they simply bludgeoned an opponent.
Which is why, of course, Monday night was such a delight for the Rays.
The Rays had an offensive evening that left onlookers scrambling for the record book in a 16-1 clubbing of the
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Boston Red Sox. Oh, they fell just short of the most runs the team has had (19, three times), hits (24) and most runs in an inning (11, twice). Still, this was as one-sided as you can imagine.
The Ray hit four home runs. They had a nine-run third-inning. They had 16 hits, four walks and reached on an error in the onslaught.
In the game:
— Yandy Diaz hit the first pitch of the game for a home run.
— Kameron Misner hit two home runs and had three hits on the night.
— Christopher Morel had three hits.
— Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda and Jake Mangum all had two hits. Caminero also homered, his fourth homer in the last seven games.
-- The Rays chased Boston's Tanner Houck after seven outs. He gave up 11 runs and 10 hits.
— Every member of the starting lineup scored a run and knocked one in.
-- The Rays have scored 24 runs in their last two games.
It should be noted that it wasn’t all offense. Starter Shane Baz went five innings of two-hit baseball. He gave up one run. He struck out 11.
The Rays are now 8-8 on the season. They play Boston tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Steinbrenner Field. Ryan Pepiot will start for the Rays against Walker Buehler.