As August winds down and the final month of the regular season comes up on the horizon, we need to start savoring every game. With the Rays trailing by 13 games in the AL East, we’re very likely entering the last month of play for the Rays, so we might as well really cherish the time we have. While the 2026 schedule seems to imply the team will be back at the Trop next season (that remains to be seen) we will all probably kind of miss this weird, wacky little offshoot season, despite the most likely outcome for the standings. Anyway, the Rays were wrapping up their three-game outing against the Guardians this afternoon, and with the series already split at a game apiece, Tampa Bay were hoping to come away with a series win. Drew Rasmussen was on the mound for the Rays, up against Slade Cecconi for the Guardians.
In the top of the first, Yandy Diaz got a one-out single; however, two outs quickly followed to leave him stranded. In the home half, the Guardians went 1-2-3.
Josh Lowe doubled to start the second inning. Then Everson Pereira singled hot on his heels, scoring Lowe and putting the Rays on the board first.
Jake Mangum singled, but was then eliminated in a double play off the bat of Carson Williams. Ultimately, Williams was left stranded, and the Rays would have to settle for the one run. In the home half, Gabriel Arias got a one-out walk, then Nolan Jones singled. Will Wilson singled, scoring Arias, tying the game up 1-1. Angel Martinez was out on a sac bunt (boooo, bunting), and the effort didn’t work out for the Guardians, who finished the inning with no additional runs scored.
Yandy Diaz got a one-out single in the third, then Brandon Lowe completed the All Lowe Scoring Combo with a home run, bringing in two runs and putting the Rays up 3-1.
In the home half of the third, the Guardians went three-up, three-down, because Rasmussen is a boss today.
The fourth inning went 1-2-3 for both the Rays and Guardians.
In the top of the fifth, the Rays went down in order, but as things switched over to the home team, Will Wilson got a leadoff single, and two outs later, he stole second. Steven Kwan then singled, bringing Wilson home and closing the gap to a nail-biting 3-2. Steven Kwan stole second, and while the initial ruling was safe, the Rays challenged the play and it was overturned to end the inning.
The sixth was another 1-2-3 inning on both sides.
Slade Cecconi, who continues to have the most DC supervillain name of any MLB pitcher, was replaced by Matt Festa in the seventh. He got the Rays out in order. Rasmussen’s day was also done after six, a really excellent outing for him. Edwin Uceta came in to replace him. Gabriel Arias singled, and with one out, Will Wilson singled. After the second out, Garrett Cleavinger replaced Uceta, and he got the final out of the inning.
Erik Sabrowski was the next Guardians pitcher out of the pen. Yandy Diaz got a two-out walk, with Brandon Lowe walking behind him. Nic Enright replaced Sabrowski, and he got the final out of the inning. In the home half, Steven Kwan took a leadoff walk, but three outs followed to leave him stranded.
Jake Mangum got a two-out single in the ninth, but got picked off at first, ending the inning. Pete Fairbanks came in for the bottom of the inning, and with one out, the worst-case scenario happened as Nolan Jones homered, tying the game. Two outs followed, but the game was headed into extras.
Cade Smith came in to pitch the tenth, and he got the Rays out in order. Griffin Jax was in from the Rays’ pen, hoping to keep the tie in place to give the Rays a second chance in the eleventh. A Bo Naylor sac bunt (boooooooo bunts) advanced the ghost runner Angel Martinez to third. Steve Kwan was intentionally walked, then advanced to second on defensive indifference. With two outs, Kyle Manzardo singled, scoring Martinez, and walked off the game with a Guardians win.
Final: Guardians 4, Rays 3
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