Tampa Bay Rays: 3, Philadelphia Phillies: 1 - Rays Rally Late (again)

Rays head to the brotherly city for a quick 2 game set against the Phillies.

Rays and Phillies both had baserunners in the first three innings, but Drew Rasmussen and Ranger Lopez kept zeros on the board.

After a Nelson Cruz strikeout in the 4th inning, Wander Franco and Yandy Diaz hit scorching singles to put two runners on with only 1 out. Brandon Lowe singled to bring Wander home and score the first run of the game.

1-0 Rays. Manuel Margot hit a well struck ball, but it was right toward Didi Gregorious, who turned a double play to end the inning, although Margot made it close.

Phillies had an answer of their own as with two outs, Didi Gregorious singled, and former Ray Brad Miller doubled to score Didi and we are tied at 1.

Rasmussen got Ronald Torreyes to lineup and end the rally.

I always forget the weird rules of the NL park, as Rasmussen was sent up to bat in the top of the 5th inning. But then I realized, its probably because Cash didn’t want to burn a PH there. Rasmussen hit a fly ball to the center fielder, which honestly was pretty impressive on its own.

Once the lefties at the top of Phillies lineup came around for the 3rd time, Rasmussen was lifted for Adam Conley.

Drew Rasmussen’s final line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, and 1 K.

Adam Conley would only give up a hit to Didi Gregorious, but otherwise was fantastic in relief, going 1.2 IP and striking out 2 and walking none. More importantly, he kept the Rays in the game.

In the top of the 8th inning, Brett Phillips worked a walk against Phillies right hander Archie Bradley. Despite all of the throws by Bradley to check on Phillips, he promptly stole second base anyways. Randy Arozarena was then hit by a pitch to put two runners on with no outs, and Nelson Cruz up to bat.

Rays take a 3-1 lead! Unfortunately the Rays’ couldn’t add any more runs as Wander, Yandy and BLowe were retired to end the inning.

Cash would go to Andrew Kittredge for the two inning save. Kittredge started the 8th by nearly pitching an immaculate inning, only needing 10 pitches (all strikes) to strike out Obdubel Herrera, Jean Segura and NL MVP Candidate Bryce Harper.

The bottom of the 9th inning would not come as easy. J.T. Realmuto hit a leadoff single. 1st out came with a Didi Gregorious fly out, 2nd out was a Brad Miller strikeout, and the 3rd out was a Rhys Hoskins pop out, but not before running the count full.

Rays held on to win 3-1 and move to 78-48 on the season.