Monday, 4 a.m.
Here’s the thing about Yandy Diaz and the All-Star game.
He plays like he’s still trying to get into it.
Diaz, already the American League’s starting first baseman, was at his best on Sunday as his Tampa Bay Rays (finally) snapped a seven-game losing streak. Diaz drove in four runs and had three hits in the Rays’ 10-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves in their final game before Tuesday night’s All-Star game.
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Diaz, hitting .323 on the season, had a single, double and a home run to return the muscle to the Rays’ batting order. The home run was his 13th of the season, but his first since May 26. He also had a two-run double in the eighth.
The Rays have struggled mightily in the month of June (seven straight losses). But they came out strong, scoring four runs in the first inning. Jonathan Aranda had a two-run double and Isaac Paredes had a two-run homer in the inning.
Former Ray Travis d’Arnaud halved the deficit for Atlanta with a two-run homer in the fourth, but in the bottom of the inning, the Rays came back with three runs. Christian Bethancourt singled in Taylor Walls and Diaz hit his two-run homer.
In the eighth, Diaz padded the lead with a two-run double.
Randy Arozarena and Paredes each had two hits in the game. Walls had a double and three walks.
The Rays now get a four-day break for the All-Star game.
They return on July 14th in Kansas City at 8:10 p.m.
Before the game, the Rays inducted Wade Boggs into their Hall of Fame.