Tuesday, 4 a.m.
Welcome back, boys.
After 561 days away, the Tampa Bay Rays returned to Tropicana Field Monday afternoon. In a lot of ways, it was worth the wait.
The Rays beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4. It was their third straight victory. After a horrible start, the Rays' pitching has given up just 10 hits in the three games.
The biggest hit for the Rays was a two-run homer by Jonathan Aranda in the seventh inning to pad a 4-3 lead to 6-3.
Cedric Mullins also had a two-run homer in the second ane Junior Caminero hit a solo shot in the third. Mullins, who entered the day hitting just .114, hit his first home run as a Ray.
In 10 gams, the Rays have scored 51 runs on 95 hits.
The Rays started Shane McClanahan, but again, he lacked stamina. He gave up just one hit, and two earned runs, in his four innings of work.
The bullpen went five innings and allowed two earned runs. Bryan Baker earned his first save.
Yandy Diaz had two hits to improve his average to .415. Chandler Simpson also had two hits (he's at .395).
The Rays play Chicago again today at 6:40 p.m. at the Trop. Drew Rasmussen will start for Tampa Bay against Javier Assad.