Sunday, 5 a.m.
This is the diagram. If these Tampa Bay Rays — all Tampa Bay Rays, really — are to win, this is the way they do it.
They pitch, first of all. Check out Ryan Pepiot, who allowed just one run on three hits against the San Diego Padres Saturday. That came on the heels of a nice game by Shane Baz, who allowed no runs on four hits in seven innings the day before.
They play defense. Kameron Misner made an outstanding catch in right field for the second straight night. Later in the game, Chandler Simpson robbed Manny Machado of a home run with a leaping catch at the wall.
Occasionally (not often), they score a bit (they won 4-1). The Rays scored four times in their fourth-straight win Saturday. Brandon Lowe homered and Christopher Morel doubled in a run. Curtis Mead drove in one with a sacrifice fly and Taylor Walls walked with the bases loaded.
The Padres’ only run came when Simpson came up short when diving for a fly ball. Instead, Tyler Wade got a leadoff triple, then scored on a single by Fernando Tatis Jr. It ended a streak of 30 scoreless innings.
The Rays were only one-for-eight with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.
Simpson had two hits and a walk. Jonathan Aranda had two hits.
The teams conclude their series today at 4:10 p.m.
Zack Littell will start for the Rays against Randy Vasquez.