Monday, 3 a.m.
The Tampa Bay Rays are going back to the playoffs.
They’ve felt better about it.
The Rays backed into the post-season Sunday despite repeatedly blowing leads in a 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Baltimore Orioles, who re-established their lead in the AL East to two games. The Rays had a two-run lead in the eighth, one in the ninth and one in the 10th innings, but couldn’t hold back the O’s.
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It is the fifth straight season the Rays have made the post-season.
The Rays tried to stretch Pete Fairbanks out to two innings, but he gave up a run in both of his innings.
In the end, Cedric Mullins hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Adley Rutschman off of Jake Diekman.
The Rays led 3-1 in the eighth, but Rutschman homered to bring the O’s to within a run. Adam Frazier doubled to left to score Jorge Mateo to tie the game.
The Rays took a 4-3 lead, but the O’s tied it when Rutschman singled to center. Mullins then won the game.
Tampa Bay had taken a 3-1 lead on back-to-back homers by Tristan Gray (his first) and Christian Bethancourt. Brandon Lowe had an early home run.
The Rays seemed to take a 4-2 lead in the ninth when Josh Lowe was called safe on a play at the plate. Instead replay overruled the call
The Rays are off today. They are home against the Angels on Tuesday night.