Rays: 6, Tigers: 9 - Rays Rally Late, but not enough

After a day off, and a disappointing series against the Minnesota Twins, the Rays are looking to get on another hot streak with a three game series against the Detroit Tigers with two familiar faces back in the lineup and Blake Snell on the mound.

Detroit would open things up in the bottom of the 1st inning with the first batter, Niko Goodrum getting a single and immediately putting pressure on Blake Snell. Snell struck out Christian Stewart with Goodrum trying for 2nd base. A throwing error by Mike Zunino would put Goodrum on third base with 1 out. It looked like Snell would wiggle his way out of trouble, but Miguel Cabrera doubled home Goodrum to make it 1-0 Tigers.

Rays answered in the 3rd inning, as Guillermo Heredia, and Daniel Robertson singled. Unfortunately, Tigers’ pitcher Ryan Carpenter picked off Heredia at 1st, which would’ve been nice as Avi Garcia came up to the plate.

Rays lead 2-1.

Snell was causing until he found himself in trouble again in the 5th inning. He opened up the bottom with a strikeout of Grayson Greiner, but that would be it. Was it injury? No. Singles by Jacoby Jones and Niko Goodrum. Another single of Christian Stewart would tie the game at 2 with still only 1 out.

Walk by Nicholas Castellanos would load the bases for Miguel Cabrera. If you think Miggy has lost his touch, you would be very wrong.

That was a good pitch too! Nevertheless, its now a 6-2 Detroit Tigers lead, and the end of Blake Snell’s forgettable night. 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, and 8 K(!). Hunter Wood would take over and keep the Tigers scoreless... until the 7th inning.

Hunter Wood got Christian Stewart to pop out, but Castellanos and Cabrera singled to put two runners on with only 1 out. Wood bounced back to get Brandon Dixon to line out to Kevin Kiermaier, but a triple to Dawel Lugo adds two more runs and makes it 8-2 Tigers. One passed ball by Mike Zunino, who is usually a stellar defender, and its 9-2 Rays in the 7th.

Hunter Wood’s final line: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, and 2 Ks.

All hope is not lost though! As the Rays would get to Detroits bullpen, which ranks 26th for bullpen ERA. I wonder how much the ranking drops when you take out Shane Greene. Yandy Diaz, Austin Meadows and Christian Arroyo all walked to load the bases for Willy Adames, who worked a full count after taking a tough 5th pitch and then destroying a 3-2 fastball in left center.

9-6 Tigers, and it looked like the Rays were closing in.

If I told you that Adam Kolarek had bases loaded with a RHH, and he got out of it, would you believe me?

Well that’s what happened! Kolarek took over for Hunter Wood in the 8th inning, and besides loading the bases, was able to strike out Gordon Beckham and keep the Rays within striking distance.

But the Rays would also have to go through Shane Greene, and despite getting a baserunner in Choi, and a 418’ fly ball with a .910 xBA by Brandon Lowe that somehow is an out in Comerica Park,

It was a little too late, as Shane Green struck out Yandy Diaz to shut the door and seal the win for the Tigers.

Final: Tampa Bay Rays: 6, Detroit Tigers: 9. Fourth loss in a row for the Rays, who look to salvage the series tomorrow with Charlie Morton taking on Spencer Turnbull. Hopefully Tommy Pham is in the lineup. **Fingers crossed**