On a night honoring an all time great that nobody will forget, the Rays continued a season that we are all desperate to see end.
I’ll admit it, I’ll eat my crow: I thought this year would be significantly better than this. I thought this years squad, with much improved bullpen and healthy rotation, would out perform the 2024 Rays who seemingly underperformed for 6 straight months. But I was clearly wrong. I have no idea how I could have been so mistaken, and so wildly off base.
At this point 80 wins seems like a truly unreachable achievement. To do that the Rays would need to win 23 more games (24 if they want to reach .500 and 25 to surpass it). All of which would require being greater than .500 in their remaining 44 games.
Tonight the Rays thankfully didn’t wait until the 8th to break our hearts, it was pretty much over before the sun went down on the West coast. Joe Boyle was not sharp at all, continued his poor command, and served up some monster dingers to Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh.
I like to think this was a very classic case tonight. You know how when you return to your home town or hang out with old High School friends, and all the progress in your life vanishes away and suddenly you aren’t an accomplished and smart and successful grown ass man, but instead the dude who threw up radioactive green in the bushes after one too many midori sours.
Anyway, for Joe Boyle this was very much a return to his Oakland A’s days where the Mariners were well acquainted with the flame throwing wild man who can’t find the zone but CAN find a barrel.
Boyle sure showcased the dazzling stuff that makes you really hope for the future, but also the unwieldy command that makes you fear for the safety of everyone behind home plate. However, with the season quickly spiraling into the abyss, Boyle getting some big leauge action like this to try and work through a deep and stacked lineup is helpful. It didn’t work out, and the potential AL MVP got him good, but these are learning lessons that will hopefully allow Boyle to reach the next level.
For the Rays side of things, much like in Game 1 of the series, this is an offense that has two members contributing. Brandon Lowe again gave the Rays a lead in the 1st inning on another solo home run. Junior Caminero hit another homer, this time of the 3 run variety, to bring the Rays just a bit closer.
In this series there have been 16 runs scored. 15 of them have been driven in by 4 men: Julio, Cal, Junior, and BLowe. The only run not driven in by that quartet is a wild pitch.
After two games, the Cal Raleigh/Julio Rodriguez pair has topped the Lowe/Caminero duo. Will another batter drive in a run tomorrow? Tune in for the mystery!
Before the game, Ichiro Suzuki got his number retired by the Mariners. Ichiro is an athlete that almost transcends the team, and really was a cultural icon. Much like Griffey Jr before him, I’m not sure a little leaguer playing during Ichiro’s MLB career didn’t try and emulate his batting stance, his almost swinging sprint to first, and his iconic cannon throws.
The Rays needed wins to stay afloat, but the Mariners are playing for even more. Not only are the chasing a division title, but they are playing to honor an all time great. The Rays just can’t compete with that. On the field, off, for pride, honor, or glory.
Mariners now 2-2 in securing victories, looking to stay a perfect 3-3 series batting average that would make Ichiro proud.
