Tampa Bay Rays News and Links: Steven Souza's Grand Slam not enough to Prevent Tie

Yesterday afternoon, the Rays engaged in a slugfest with the Baltimore Orioles with no winner being named as each team racked up eight runs with 11 hits, while the Orioles made the lone error. Also, they used pitchers who are locked to make their opening day roster, so I am declaring the Rays as the winners in this all important contest.

Jhan Marinez got the start for Tampa -- yes, it was that kind of game -- and immediately ran into trouble in the first, but was able to escape without allowing any damage. The following inning was a different story however, as there were two outs and the bases were loaded for Pedro Alvarez...who proceeded to make a deposit somewhere beyond the right field wall as the ball traveled a long way.

The Rays offense would quickly bounce back in the third though, as Logan Morrison demolished a shot to center field that sailed over the batter's eye, scoring both he and James Loney, who led off the inning with a single, making it a two run game. Evan Longoria followed Morrison's homer, with one of his own as he reached over the plate and launched a moon beam over the left field wall, pulling the game within one.

Just as the Rays clawed their ways back, Kyle McPherson extended the deficit just a half inning later as Mark Trumbo took a hanging breaking ball and hammered over the wall in left, to make it 6-3. The O's would tack on one more to give them a three run advantage.

The Rays weren't out of it yet though, as they mounted another comeback in the fifth inning. The first three batters would reach base thanks to some well placed hits and defensive miscues, to bring up the mighty Corey Dickerson -- who promptly struck out as part of an 0-4, four strike out performance. After Dickerson, Steven Souza out a charge into one that soared over the wall in right-center field for a game tying grand slam.

Once the replacements came in for the Rays, they'd take a one run lead, but that was short lived as Pedro Alvarez would come through again, tying the game at eight, and that'd end bring the final score.

Links!

- The Drake LaRoche/White Sox saga is utterly ridiculous and just needs to go away.

- The Braves have claimed southpaw, Jesse Biddle off waivers. He underwent TJS in October, so this is more a move for 2017.

- The Angels have signed Chone Figgins to a one day deal in order to allow him to retire as a member of their organization.

- Rolando Arrojo, the first Cuban player in team history, discusses the Rays historic trip.