Rays: 8, Red Sox: 2 - Team Tampa Bay Wins!

Tampa Bay is apparently another word for long games, as the Rays clocked an almost four and a half hour game yesterday, and the Tampa Bay Ice Rays Lightning are currently playing in the 4th OT, in the longest game in franchise history.

Cash going with a Bullpen + Bulk day today, with Kittredge Opening and Jalen Beeks taking the bulk of the pitching load.

Bross Move

Mike Brosseau worked Red Sox starter, Martin Perez to a 3-2 count before hitting a 108 MPH laser into the right field dugout and giving the Rays a quick 1-0 lead to open the game.

Kittredge Injury

Andrew Kittredge was scheduled to open the game, but came out after only two batters due to an arm injury.

Kittredge was taken out for the dreaded - “Right Arm Soreness” - as reported by Fox Sports.

Cash would have to piece together an unplanned bullpen game, and went to John Curtiss. Originally I thought Curtiss would be asked to get through the 1st inning, and maybe some of the 2nd, but Curtiss got the Rays all the way to the 4th inning.

Curtiss gave up two back to back hits in the 2nd inning, which tied the game at 1 a piece, but overall a great outing by Curtiss, given the circumstances.

Curtiss final line: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.

Rays were able to get a run back in the 3rd inning, with a Yandy Diaz single to score Mike Brosseau from 2nd (insert eyes emoji) to give the Rays a 2-1 lead

Rays and Red Sox would trade zero run innings for the 4th, 5th and 6th, which was good because the Tampa Bay Lightning game was STILL GOING ON in the 5th OVERTIME. It started at 3 PM EST. I thought at one point that the Rays would finish their game before the Lightning would finish theirs.

(Lighting ended up winning in the 5th OT on a Brandon Point shot)

The 7th Inning

Rays got things cooking in the 7th inning with the red hot Manuel Margot doubling down the 3B line and scoring a hustling Willy Adames.

After a Mike Zunino walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Cash pinch hit Brandon Lowe in Mike Brosseau’s spot, who after pulling a rocket of a foul ball hit a double to score another one and makes it 4-1 Rays.

Yandy Diaz got in on the action, and scored Mike Zunino from 3rd.

It’s a choice.

A passed ball by Vazquez would score Lowe from third, and Hunter Renfroe doubled to bring Diaz and and Meadows home and give the Rays a dominant 8-1 Lead.

Rays’ pitchers held up their end, as well, with Jose Alvarado (2.0 IP), Ryan Thompson (1.0 IP), Diego Castillo (1.0 IP), Aaron Loup (1.0 IP) , and Nick Anderson (1.0 IP) combining for 3H, 1 R, 8 strikeouts, and 1 walk. Already in midseason form.

FINAL: Rays 8, Red Sox 2.

Rays move to 10-8 on the short season (27-22 for 162 pace) and are on a 4 game streak. They will go for the series win tomorrow at 7:30 PM. Blake Snell will take the mound against Zack Godley.