Wednesday, 4 a.m.
The first thing about an all-star game is to make it. Watching from home is never a good thing.
The second thing is to do well.
That, at least, the members of the Tampa Bay Rays got right.
Yes, the American League lost for the first time in a decade, falling 3-2 to the National League. But it’s hard to pin this one on the Rays.
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Consider:
— Randy Arozarena continued his strong week with an impressive catch in left field and a sharp single to left field.
— Yandy Diaz homered to account for the AL’s first run. On Sunday, Diaz had homered in a Rays’ victory for the first time since May 26.
— In the ninth, with the AL trailing by a run, Wander Franco hit a ball to the warning track in right field, just missing tying the game.
So maybe a couple of more Rays should have made the game? You think?
For Arozarena, it was another night of solidifying his popularity. There is an infectious way to how he plays the game, whether it’s showing off his cowboy boots or interacting with he fans. There is something about him that the get-off-my-lawn crowd will never get, but he’s a star for the next generation.
For Diaz, it was part of a big weekend. He left the game to fly home for the birth of his son.
Franco is still trying to bridle his talent. But it lies somewhere between the strong, silent approach of Diaz and the energy of Arozarena.
The Rays return to play on Friday night in Kansas City.