Rays opened this game looking for a season high 5 games over .500 and a series win against the Royals.
Stanek would open the first two innings, and even though worked a few full counts, was able to put up 2 zeros.
Rays would score first as Brandon Lowe would single in Michael Perez and Carlos Gomez in the 2nd to make it 2-0 Rays.
.@RaysBaseball 2B Brandon Lowe rips a 2-run single to center field driving in Michael Perez and Carlos Gomez. Rays up 2-0!
— FOX Sports Florida (@FOXSportsFL) August 22, 2018
Don't miss any more of the action and catch the Rays LIVE on FOX Sports Sun and FOX Sports Go! #RaysUp #MLB pic.twitter.com/1NEcMyTtyq
Yonny Chirinos would take over for Ryne Stanek and make quick work of the first 3 Royals batters before giving up a long, HR to hot streak hitter Whit Merrifield to make it 2-1 Royals.
Rays had a chance to get some insurance in the 4th with a lead-off double by Kiermaier, but couldn’t bring him in as Perez would groundout, and Adames and Gomez would strikeout to end the threat
Royals would answer with an double of their own by Ryan O’Hearn, but Chirinos buckled down and got Hunter Dozier to strikeout, and not DRB writer Brett Phillips to groundout to 1B.
Through the 5th inning, the Rays were able to put runners on, but unable to bring them home. That finally stopped in the 6th when after a Whitfield error put runners on the corners with 1 out, which lead to everybody’s favorite event in baseball:
Squeeze! pic.twitter.com/6mUsFcD66n
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 23, 2018
Oh yes. Gomez safety squeeze makes it 3-1 Rays. Two batters later, MVP Mallex Smith singles home Michael Perez.
Even though the Rays had a 4-1 lead, the Royals wouldn’t go away quietly. Yonny Chirinos would come out for the 8th and give up a Ryan O’Hearn single and then a Hunter Dozier HR to make it 4-3 Rays, and the end of Chirinos’ night. Final line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 Ks, and 2 BBs.
A combination of Kolerk, Roe, and Alvarado would close out the 8th and even though things got dicey with a Alcides Escobar double, the Rays would escape with a slim 1 run lead.
Lol pic.twitter.com/Mc1dzZIgER
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 23, 2018
Fortunately the Rays would get some insurance runs after a still-MVP Mallex smith double would score Carlos Gomez. Smith would come around to score with a Matt Duffy single and make it 6-3 Rays.
Closer Sergio Romo would come in and quickly get Salvador Perez and Lucas Duda out, but as the saying goes, the last out is the hardest one to get, as Rosell Herrera would single, and take second base on defensive indifference on the next batter, who happened to be red hot hitter against the Rays, Ryan O’Hearn.
I would try to explain the last play of the game, but its easier to show you.
Stick with the play... it could win you a ballgame. pic.twitter.com/h6tj505CAu
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 23, 2018
Rays out here playing closer chess. First “the opener” and now “the save”.
Rays win 6-3, and will look to sweep the season series against the Royals. Tyler Glasnow takes on Danny Duffy. First pitch is at 7:10 pm.