Rays 4, Braves 5: Rays drop early lead in close-scoring outing

Happy Saturday, everyone, and what a beautiful day for a Rays game!

AJ Smith-Shawver was on the mound for the Braves, up against Drew Rasmussen for the Rays, so let’s see how the home game shook out against one of the baseball teams with the worst starts of the season.

In the top of the first Michael Harris II singled, and then stole second in quick succession. Three outs followed, however, making his efforts for naught. Onto the home half, and with two outs in the inning, Junior Caminero hit a solo home run.

Jonathan Aranda followed up with a single, but the Rays would have to settle for one.

Ozzie Albies kicked off the second with a leadoff single, then Sean Murphy followed him with a walk. Murphy was then eliminated on a force out off the bat of Bryan De La Cruz. Cruz successfully stole second one out later, but both runners were left stranded on the following out to end the inning. Jose Caballero got a one-out single in the bottom of the inning, but was caught stealing, and the Rays had no additional shots that inning.

The Braves got a one-out single from Austin Riley in the third, but Marcel Ozuna hit into a double play to end the inning speedily. In the home half, Yandy Diaz got a one-out single, then Brandon Lowe singled. It likely should have been a double play, but the baseball gods really smiled at the Rays on this one. Caminero walked to load things up, then Aranda walked, to score Diaz. The Rays had to settle for the one run, but it was a little extra padding.

The Braves went 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth. In the home half Caballero got a one out single but a double play eliminated the baserunner and another out ended the inning.

Nick Allen got a two-out single in the top of the fifth, but the Braves had little opportunity to score him. The Rays didn’t make much of a fuss in the bottom of the inning, going down 1-2-3.

Manuel Rodríguez was out of the pen for the Rays in relief in the sixth. He gave up a leadoff single to Austin Riley, and one out later Matt Olson helped advance Riley to third with a single of his own. A really nice double play off an Ozzie Albies hit helped get the Rays out of a potentially dangerous situation.

Rafael Montero was in for the Braves in relief and the Rays almost immediately jumped on him. Aranda walked, then Christopher Morel walked. Kameron Misner singled to load the bases. A strikeout later, Taylor Walls bunted, and was able to get to first as Aranda was tagged out at home. Bases still loaded. Unfortunately, the Rays would leave them loaded, really dropping a great opportunity to extend their lead.

The Braves let them pay for that mistake almost immediately in the seventh as Sean Murphy hit a solo home run. With one out, Garrett Cleavinger replaced Rodriguez, he collected one more out before giving up a single to Nick Allen and walking Michael Harris II. That was it for Cleavinger. Edwin Uceta came in and saved the day with the final out of the inning so everyone could take a breath. Daysbel Hernández was the next Braves reliever out, and Yandy Diaz immediately hit a double. Aranda knocked a two-out single into right, deep enough to score Diaz. They’d have to settle for the one run, but they needed it.

Hunter Bigge was the newest Rays’ reliever in the eighth. Marcel Ozuna singled, and then was eliminated in a double play off Matt Olson’s bat. The out call was challenged but upheld, and it would turn out to be very good that it was because the next batter, Ozzie Albies, hit a solo home run. Then Sean Murphy homered to tie the game. Bryan De La Cruz walked, but the Rays were able to stop any additional damage. Dylan Lee was in for the Braves to pitch, and Caballero got a one-out single, and then successfully stole second. He then got caught in a rundown trying to steal third. Taylor Walls singled, then advanced to second on a called balk. A pinch-hitting Danny Jansen walked, but even with all that opportunity the Rays couldn’t bring a run in.

In the ninth, Cole Sulser was in for the Rays and things almost immediately went badly. Nick Allen doubled, and then Michael Harris II hit a home run that bounced off the top of the outfield wall. Austin Riley singled, then Marcell Ozuna singled. A double play eliminated two, at last. Ozzie Albies walked. The Rays finally got the third out of the inning, but the damage was done, with the Braves taking a 5-3 lead. Raisel Iglesias came in for the Braves in the bottom of the ninth to wrap things up. With two outs, Aranda continued a great game with a solo home run. That was all the Rays would be able to muster, though.

Final: Braves 5, Rays 4