Monday, 4 a.m.
You keep telling yourself this is a hot streak, nothing more. A touted prospect off to a good start. A delay in the slumps that baseball eventually claims.
And then you watch Chandler Simpson again.
And you think “wow.”
Simpson, the Rays’ touted rookie, was at it again Sunday, leaving skid marks on the base paths, leading rather than following his teammates to yet another win. This time, it was 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Simpson had three hits. He scored two runs. He drove in another. He stole a base. He scored on a wild pitch. He led his team to a victory that lifted them to .500 again. He’s played a mean center field.
In his eight games with the Rays, Simpson has had a hit in all of them. He’s led the Bolts to a 6-2 record. He’s hit .400 and stolen three bases. He lifted his team to a sweep of the Padres with six hits.
Does the kid have your attention yet?
Certainly, the Rays seem more complete with him. They had 10 hits Sunday, lifting Zack Littell to his first win of the season.
Littell threw five innings and allowed five hits and two runs. Pete Fairbanks picked up his sixth save of the year.
San Diego took a 1-0 lead, but the Rays tied it on Taylor Wells’ first home run. The Rays took a 2-1 lead in the third when Brandon Lowe singled in Simpson.
The Padres tied the game on Manny Machado’s sacrifice fly.
The Rays took the lead back when Simpson scored on a wild pitch. Simpson singled in
Travis Jankowski in the ninth.
Tampa Bay is off today, then begins a series against Kansas City Tuesday at Steinbrenner Field. The Rays will start Taj Bradley against Michael Lorenzen.