Monday, 4 a.m.
So what’s the fuss about hitting, anyway?
The offensively challenged Tampa Bay Rays finally beat the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon. The Rays, 59-58, have beaten the O’s only twice in 10 games this season.
The Rays scored the winning run in the eighth inning without benefit of a hit. They had three walks and four stolen bases, all off reliever Craig Kimbrel, who has 440 career saves (fifth all-time). Curtis Mead’s sacrifice fly to right broughr home Brandon Lowe with the winning run.
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Pete Fairbanks struck out the side in the ninth inning for his 23rd save.
Jeffrey Springs started his third game since coming back from Tommy John surgery. He went five innings, and Baltimore’s only run came on a home run by Anthony Santander. The bullpen — Edwin Uceta, Manny Rodriguez and Fairbanks — shut out the O’s the rest of the way.
The Rays had just six hits, and they were one-for-eight with runners in scoring position. But a solid pitching perfronance allowed them to win. In the seventh, Dylan Carlson singled in Jose Caballero to tie the game.
The Rays begin a three-game homestand today against Houston at 6:50 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Taj Bradley will start for the Rays against Framber Valdez.