If there were a regular season game to exemplify how the Rays and the fan base are rolling, I have to say, tonight was it.
The 2nd overall pick throwing out the first pitch, Nick Martinez shoving, and the big three of Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero, and Yandy Diaz consecutively getting huge hits to contribute, and Brian Baker closing the ballgame.
All in front of a roaring and lively crowd of 24,100, less than 100 sold tickets away from a sellout, prompting Junior Caminero to deliver a message during his postgame interview.
With all of that being said, let’s get into the action.
In the bottom of the first, Yandy Diaz got his 1,000th hit in a Rays uniform, joining Carl Crawford, Ben Zobrist, and Evan Longoria. It was a patented Diaz at-bat, a seven pitch at-bat resulting in a line drive single to right field.
In the fifth, the big three announced their presence with authority.
Diaz stroked a 107 MPH double off the center field wall, Jonathan Aranda singled, and Junior Caminero lined a double to right field to drive in Diaz, and emphatically pumped his fist. 1-0 Rays.
Cedric Mullins would drive in Aranda by way of the sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
In the sixth, Hunter Feduccia executed the first and third bunt perfectly, scoring Victor Mesa Jr. 3-0 Rays.
Fast forward to the ninth, cue Lights by Avicii, enter Brian Baker, and a strikeout and two flyouts later, we get the win horn and an orange roof. Rays win!
