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Tampa Bay Rays News and Links: Cruz-in’

Nelson Cruz brings the boomstick, Ripken the Bat Dog returns, and the sweetest looking fake uniforms you’ll ever see

Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Nelson Cruz hit two bombs in 10-0 route of the Orioles, leading some Cruz detractors to backpedal.

With homers in five straight games now, Mike Zunino is one away from a Rays record.

Chris Ellis, in his first big league appearance since 2019, missed out on a four inning save — because the official scorer awarded him the win instead. Baseball is weird.

The Rays are now five games up on the Yankees and the Red Sox, with the Red Sox falling into third by percentage points.

Louis Head opens for Yarbrough tonight.

Brett Phillips is a national treasure.

The stadium saga continues.

Oakland A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt was hit in the head with a liner last night in Chicago. The team released a statement that he was “conscious and aware” on his way to the hospital. After the game, manager Bob Melvin said:

Bass is conscious, he was the entire time,” manager Bob Melvin said after the game. “We don’t think the eye is a problem at this point. It felt like it was below it. He’s got some cuts and used some stitches. He’s in a scan and we’ll know about potential fractures tomorrow or later tonight.

MORNING UPDATE ON BASSITT IS VERY GOOD NEWS:

Fangraphs on Andrew Kittredge’s slider.

So there’s gonna be a Field of Dreams series on Peacock?

Neil Greenberg on who is getting squeezed the most.

Jeff Passan asks, what would you do if you were Commissioner for a day.

Jack Morris apologizes for making an on-air racist joke. No word on if there was a deep drive to left by Castellanos.

Power rankings from the Ringer.

A hearing regarding a restraining order in the Trevor Bauer sexual assault case is underway. Sheryl Ring at Beyond the Box Score (and on Twitter) should be your go to source for information.

This thread on DBack prospect Kristian Robinson is interesting and sad and frustrating.

Sadly, these are fake. But wouldn’t it be cool if they weren’t?

Chris Archer looked solid in his latest rehab assignment.

Finally, your palate cleanse: Ripken the Bat Dog makes his debut for the Durham Bulls.