Rays’ thin pitching can’t avert defeat

May 22, 2023 general

Monday, 4 a.m. Cooper Criswell? Jake Diekman? Zack Littell? My word, the Tampa Bay Rays are out of pitchers. The Rays gave up too many baserunners, and too many home runs, in their 6-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday afternoon. It was just their fourth home loss of the season. Content beyond this point […]

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Pitching rebound lead Rays to 1-0 win.

May 20, 2023 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. The Tampa Bay Ryas didn’t just come home Friday night. They came bouncing back. The Rays slipped past Milwaukee, 1-0, after comeback pitching performances by Shane McClanahan, Jason Adam and Pete Fairbanks, who combined for the shutout. McClanahan, who had been beaten beaten up in a no-decison by the Yankees in his […]

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Sliding Rays lost another close game

May 19, 2023 general

Friday, 4 a.m. Perhaps it was bound to happen. Baseball is a season of rises and falls, so it is natural that the Tampa Bay Rays would enter a leveling off period. Blame it on the injuries. Blame it on the toughening schedule. Blame it on 10-game road trips. Blame it on the bullpen. Whatever, […]

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Mets clobber Rays’ bullpen in comeback

May 18, 2023 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. The Tampa Bay Rays blew a ballgame Wednesday night. Then, just to be sure, they blew it again. The Rays blew their game against the New York Mets like it was a fireworks show. They blew it with a three-run lead in the ninth and a two-run lead in the 10th. They […]

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Paredes hits two homers to lead Rays

May 17, 2023 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. He has pitched in Detroit. He has pitched in Houston. He has pitched in New York. But Tuesday night was the first time Justin Verlander, future Hall of Famer, has ever been taken to Paredes City. Isaac Paredes hit two home runs and drove in five runs to lift the Rays to […]

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Even in baseball, fun should matter to viewers

May 16, 2023 general

Tuesday, 4 a.m. Frankly, I think people ought to get off my lawn. And be quiet in class. And get a haircut. Bah. And furthermore, humbug. When it comes to being a cranky old guy, I can harrumph with the next guy. I can tell you all about the Cartwrights on TV and the days […]

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Rays finally hold off a Yankees’ comeback

May 15, 2023 general

Monday, 4 a.m. This time, the comeback failed. This time, the bullpen held. This time, the ball stayed inside the park. It was as close as the game’s final swing, a deep fly ball off the bat of Aaron Judge that could have tried the game but dropped into the glove of Jose Siri just […]

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Rays welcome Diaz’ return to lineup

May 14, 2023 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. So we have found out what happened to the offense of the Tampa Bay Rays where they went through their miini-slump this weekend. It was over at Yanky Diaz’ house. Diaz, the leading hitter in the American League, returned to the Rays lineup Saturday, and it was like someone plugged the electricity […]

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Rays collapse after building huge lead

May 14, 2023 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. So this is what it feels like on the other side of the collapse. The Tampa Bay Rays lost their third game in the last four Saturday afternoon, blowing a huge lead against the New York Yankees in a 9-8 defeat. The loss felt a lot like the Rays’ 8-7 win over […]

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Yankees come back last to beat Rays

May 13, 2023 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. One pitch, and all the good was undone. One pitch, and the New York Yankees took the foot of the Tampa Bay Rays off of their necks. One pitch, and none of it mattered anymore. Not the diving catch by Randy Arozarena. Not the three-run home run from Josh Lowe. Not the […]

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