Pete Fairbanks is — for the Rays — an expensive commodity, a face of the franchise, and a player the Rays need to be performing well if they’re going to have a prayer of the playoffs.
Against the Nationals he was all that and more, pitching two full innings across the first and third game of the series with just two hits allowed and picking up two strikeouts in each outing.
On Friday night that included some perseverance, after getting James Wood out on a called strike three and a ground out, Fairbanks allowed a single and a double to bring up the tying run in Riley Adams, but Fairbanks was up to the challenge, getting him swinging on a fastball high and away that had to have looked promising.
On Sunday afternoon Fairbanks got some luck after a tag play went the Rays way following a challenge, otherwise he struck out Luis Garcia Jr and former first rounder Brady House swinging on a remarkably similar pitch!
Yet another lesson that it pays to read your scouting reports…
DRAYSBAY PLAYER OF THE SERIES
