The Rays were looking to extend their winning run against AL teams but completing a sweep of the Guardians, but to get there, they’d need to battle it out with Mother Nature first. Those with no domes must suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous meteorological fortune, in this case being a typical Ohio rain delay. Once the game did get underway over an hour late, Drew Rasmussen was on the mound for the Rays, up against Gavin Williams for the Guardians.
After last night’s scary moment with Junior Caminero taking a bounced foul ball to the face, he was right back in the lineup today, apparently not too much worse for wear. He and the rest of the top of the order went 1-2-3 in the top of the first. With one out in the home half, Chase DeLauter hit a little bloop single into the outfield to be the first person to get on base in the game. Rasmussen had no issues getting out of the jam, putting away the rest of the order.
The second went a lot like the first, with Williams getting the Rays out in order. For a guy who loves to give up walks, he was certainly pitching to a lot of contact. In the home half, Daniel Schneemann got a leadoff single. Some responsive fielding between Richie Palacios and Jonathan Aranda helped keep the baserunner from getting home, and some nice pitching work by Rasmussen got through the side with no damage done.
With one out in the top of the third, Hunter Feduccia was hit by a pitch, Williams’ first hit batter of the season. With two outs, Chandler Simpson singled, putting two men on, but the Rays weren’t able to take advantage of the baserunners, as Caminero struck out to end the inning. In the home half of the inning, things got a little messy for Rasmussen and the Rays. Brayan Rocchio hit a leadoff single, then stole second. One out later (and Roccio advancing to third), DeLauter drew a walk to put men on the corners. Jose Ramirez reached on what was ruled a fielder’s choice even though everyone was safe and the bases were loaded. A sac fly from Kyle Manzardo brought in the first run of the game. A wild pitch then allowed the runner to advance, but thankfully, the Guardians would need to settle for just the one run.
In the top of the fourth the Rays made little headway in getting that run back. Jake Fraley got a two-out single, but Fraley then got picked off to end the inning. Rasmussen was back in his groove in the home half, getting out the side in order.
The Rays had another 1-2-3 inning in the fifth. In the home half, Rocchio reached on a fielding error by Aranda. Steven Kwan then doubled, putting two men in scoring position. A DeLauter single brought the two baserunners in, putting Cleveland up 3-0. With two outs, Schneemann singled, then stole second, putting two men in scoring position once more. The final out of the inning came, but the Rays now had a much wider gap to traverse if they were going to come back to win.
If the Rays were going to stage a comeback, they went about it the wrong way in the sixth, going three-up, three-down. Drew Rasmussen’s day was done, making way for Casey Legumina. Rasmussen’s final line for the day was 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K on 91 pitches. Rocchio continued to be a pest in the sixth, getting a two-out single. Steven Kwan walked. Legumina turned things around, getting the final out of the inning and keeping the Guardians at bay.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Yandy Diaz got a base hit. Fraley then reached on an awkward fielder’s choice, and Diaz was able to score, finally getting the Rays on the board. The Rays were only able to get the one run, but it was a start. Yoendrys Gómez was the next Rays’ pitcher out of the pen. Jose Ramirez got a leadoff double, then with one out, he stole second. Big bag stealing game for the Guardians today. Cleveland couldn’t do anything with their baserunner, giving the Rays another chance to make something happen.
Chandler Simpson got a two-out single in the eighth, followed close on his heels was a single from Caminero. That was all she wrote for Williams, who up until that moment, had seemed almost unstoppable with 9 strikeouts and not a single walk. Ben Williamson came in to pinch-run for Caminero, then both Simpson and Williamson stole a base. A ball meant to catch Williamson bounced and ended up hitting him, but he seemed to be okay. Unfortunately, despite the hustle (and what might have looked like a call for an ABS challenge that was ignored?) the inning ended with two men stranded and no runs scored. Update: the challenge system is apparently down, which is new. Rocchio continues to be a thorn in the Rays’ side, getting a two-out single in the home half. Rocchio was called safe on a pickoff attempt but the Rays asked for a review. While it looked like he might have been out, there were no good angles to show exactly when the tag was applied, so he stayed safe. It didn’t end up mattering as Kwan grounded out to end the inning.
Cade Smith came out of the pen, and immediately gave up a single to Yandy Diaz. Too bad they couldn’t make a push for a comeback, though, the next three batters went out in order, and that was all she wrote.
Final: Guardians 3, Rays 1
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