Rays’ offense shows up in victory

by Gary Shelton on August 18, 2024

in general

Diaz had three hits./TIM WIRT

Sunday, 3 a.m.

Who are those guys?

Certainly, they can’t be the Tampa Bay Rays, those guys with matchsticks for baseball bats. Saturday, the Rays pounded out 13 hits in a 6-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. They also stole four bases — including Josh Lowe’s steal of home — to win their second straight game and return to the .500 level (61-61) n the season.

The Rays have scored 11 runs and collected 23 hits in their two games against Arizona, which had won 19 of 21 games before the Rays’ series began. In their previous three games against Houston, the Rays had four runs and had 11 hits in three straight losses.



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It was the 800th career win for manager Kevin Cash.

Saturday, the Rays got a strong start from Jeffrey Springs, who pitched in his third game since returning from Tommy John surgery. Springs gave up just four hits and one run in five innings in getting his first win.

The Rays scored two runs in each of the first two innings off Zac Gallen, who was going for his 10th win.

In the first inning, Josh Lowe tripled home Brandon Lowe. Josh Lowe then scored on a double steal. Junior Caminero, who had walked, took second. Lowe took home on the throw to second.

In the second inning, Taylor Walls and Alex Jackson — the No. 8 and 9 batters — both singled. They pulled off a double steal, setting the Rays up for Yandy Diaz’s two-run single.

Arizona scored once in the fifth, but Brandon Lowe hit a two-run homer in the sixth.

The Rays’ bullpen threw four shutout innings. Arizona left the bases loaded in the eighth.

Diaz had three hits. Brandon Lowe, Junior Caminero, Walls and Alex Jackson all had two hits. Lowe hit a home run and a double that was stuck in the B-ring of the Trop ceiling.

The teams play again today at 1:40 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Drew Rasmusen will start for the Rays against Merrill Kelly

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