This is a weird team. This was another “fun” game in which both teams score 19 runs, 27 hits, 2 errors and what felt like a million BABIP hits. Rays go 8-1 against the Yankees, Nationals and Astros, then go 3-3 against the Mets and Marlins, and now go into extra innings for the second time in a week against a 40-52 Detroit Tigers team.

Why do I get the weird games?

Lets start with

The Good

Archer was activated from the 10-day DL after making a rehab start at Charlotte going 4.0 IP and 7 Ks, and he looked not bad, but not good either for his first start back.

He would leave in the 4th inning going 3.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, and 3 Ks.

The Rays offense got things off to a great start for Archer by sending nine men to the plate in the 1st inning and plating 5 runs with help from Cron, Bauers, Hech and Gomez.

The Detroit Tigers would get within striking distance, but the Rays always had an answer. After the Tigers would score 3 runs in the 3rd to make the score 5-3, All Star Catcher Wilson Ramos would answer with his 13th HR of the year to extend the lead back to 3.

Carlos Gomez would also get in on the fun, with a double to plate C.J. Cron and make the score 7-3.

Disclaimer: A couple of those hits and runs came from some serious BABIP luck. Take a look for yourselves:

Gomez tonight: 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs

Four run lead? That should be plenty of room for a Rays win right? Even with an pitch count shortened Archer?

Right guys?

The Bad

The Rays tried to lose this game. The Rays would get to the 7th with a four run lead and Cash would hand the ball over to Jamie Schultz after a solid outing by Hunter Wood (2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K).

Schultz would put the first two men on via a walk and a HBP and then give up a double to Niko Goodrum.

Cash would try to stop the bleeding (both for the sake of the game and the bullpen) by going to when-does-Johnny-Venters-come back Adam Kolarek.

Kolark couldn’t get the job done with a Victor Martinez sac fly to score Nick Castellanos and bring the Tigers to 2.

Alright. NO MORE MESSING AROUND. Time to go to the big guns. Diego Castillo comes in with his traditional 1.47 ERA and non traditional 2.19 FIP and 10.39 K/9.

Sigh.

Castllo would walk former Ray Mikie Mahtook and hit James McCann to put 2 on with 2 out before a double to Jose Iglesias would tie the game at 7.

Rays would respond to the Tigers comeback with a couple of hard-earned runs of their own. Including an impressive squeeze bunt by Gomez

Gomez would later run into an out after a hard Joey Wendle double would score Bauers and make it 9-7 Rays.

Stanek/Alvarado/Romo to close it out?! SOUNDS GOOD TO....

checks notes

2 innings later, the usually strong back (or front) end of the bullpen had given up 2 runs, but only 1 was earned as an error by Jake Bauers trying to relay a throw to Romo allowed the tying run to score.

The Fun

This is a weird team, but its also a lot of fun to watch. Even though the scrappy Tigers team would not go away, causing the game to go into extras, the Rays always had an answer.

They also had some spectacular defensive plays

In the 10th inning, with the Rays quickly running out of pitchers, a slumping Kiermaier came to the plate and promptly broke out

This team is weird, but that is okay.

We love it.

Rays play again tomorrow at 7:10 PM. Opener Ryne Stanek takes on Matthew Boyd.