Rays: 5, Rangers: 3 - Rays win 6th in a row

Rays head into Texas with a five game win streak, and looking to keep their hold on the 1st Wild Card standings.

Ryan Yarbrough on the bump against Lance Lynn, in what turned out to be a semi pitchers duel, with both pitchers putting up zeros for the first 3 innings.

First runs were scored in the bottom of the fourth inning, after Yarby opened up the inning with a Sin-Soo Choo HBP. Willie Calhoun doubled home Choo to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

Nick Solak, who was traded to the Rangers from the Rays in return for Peter Fairbanks, was the next batter.

3-0 Rangers.

For the Rays’ bats they had some difficulty getting to Lance Lynn, with their first run coming in the 5th inning. After a Guillermo Heredia double, Joey Wendle singled him home to give the Rays their first run.

Yarby gave another solid outing for the Rays, and besides the 4th inning, settled down. His final line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, and 7 Ks.

Once Lance Lynn exited after 7 innings, the Rays were able to tie the game up. After a Joey Wendle triple off Rafael Montero, Austin “AL Player of the Week” Meadows stepped up to the plate and continued his campaign.

Nick Anderson took over in the 8th for Yarby, and I’ll give you three guesses of what happened next.

Rangers threatened in the bottom of the 9th off Colin Poche. Poche did get the first two outs, but issued back-to-back walks to Danny Santana and Rougned Odor, who then immediately stole 2nd and 3rd.

FREE BASEBALL!!

Rays and Rangers traded zeros in the 10th inning, but the fun started in the 11th. After singles by Duffy and Adames, Nate Lowe hit a dribbler down the right field line, and it looked like the Rays were going down again.

Rays got a little bit of breathing room with a Heredia single to bring home Adames and give the Rays a 5-3 lead.

Rays got their Nick Solak trade revenge by sending out Peter Fairbanks, which besides a single to who else but Nick Solak, secured the save.

Final: Rays: 5 - Rangers: 3.

Great start to the road trip. Rays will look for their 7th win in a row and another series win by sending Andrew Kittredge to open with Austin Pruitt getting the bulk innings. Gametime is at 8:05 EST.