Thursday, 4 a.m.
His first hit, the home run, was a plea.
His second, the double, was a suggestion.
By the time he got around to the third hit, it was a demand.
Vote for Randy Arozarena to go the All-Star game. Seattle deserves a little Randy Land, too.
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Arozarena was in one of his party moods again Wednesday. He had three hits and a walk and drove in two to pace the Rays to a 7-2 victory over Baltimore, a win that reestablished the team's five-game lead in the AL East race.
Arozarena, who has climbed to third in the latest voting, trailing only Aaron Judge and Mike Trout, continues to treat the 2023 season as if it is a celebration. He's grinning, he's posing, his helmet is flying off, he's playing with fans...and he's hitting the baseball.
He now has 14 home runs on the season and 50 RBI.
"He’s certainly performing like an all-star," said Rays' manager Kevin Cash. "The poise that he’s showing at the plate and the awareness of not expanding. If they walk him, they walk him. That’s been the difference maker from last year to this year."
The win was a solid one for the Rays, who had lost five of their previous eight games and three in a row. The Rays had 10 hits on the day. Besides the three by Arozarena, Yandy Diaz and Jose Siri each had two.
Pitcher Taj Bradley also had a strong game, going six innings and allowing just three hits and a run. He struck out eight and ran his record to 5-3.
The Rays will now host the Kansas City Royals for a four-game set at Tropicana Field, starting tonight at 6:40 p.m. The Royals have not announced a starter. The Rays will start Shane McClanahan, who will go for his 12th win.