Friday, 3 a.m.
Turns out, the bats of the Tampa Bay Rays didn't die, after all.
After two straight nights of being shut out, the Rays' offensive assault of this early season resumed Thursday night. Tampa Bay drubbed the Chicago White Sox and ace Dylan Cease in a 14-5 victory.
It was a stroll in the park for the Rays, who scored three in the second, three in the fifth and five in the sixth.
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You want offense? Try this:
-- Brandon Lowe, who had been oh for his last 15, had three hits, including a homer and a triple.
-- Yandy Diaz had three hits, including a homer.
-- Luke Raley had three hits, including a homer.
-- Josh Lowe had three hits.
-- Isaac Paredes drove in five runs.
"Our offense has been really productive throughout the first month," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "Two quiet nights doesn’t mean things are going sideways. We came out and had a good approach against Dylan Cease."
It was enough of an explosion that Shane McClanahan ran his record to 4-0. McClanahan, because of the big lead and cold night, worked just five innings and gave ump five hits.
The Rays play Chicago again tonight at 7:10 p.m. The Rays will start Zach Eflin against Lucas Giolito.