Offense comes alive late but comeback falls short.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The Rays are in a bad way. In fact, coming into Saturday night’s game against Seattle, they’re a season-worst four games under .500. Just a month ago, they were seven games above the mark. To say they’re slumping is an understatement. A win Saturday night could help to get things back on track.
If they could find some offense.
Wilson Ramos would continue to stay hot driving home Peter Bourjos with two outs in the bottom of the first inning off Ariel Miranda. With the RBI single, he improved to 10 for his last 17 at the plate.
It was looking ugly in the second inning for Odorizzi. After a single and two walks, the bases were loaded with one out. The Rays righty would get a strikeout and a fly out off the bat of Yonder Alonso to get out of the threat and keep the 1-0 lead in tact.
The very next inning, however, Jake wouldn’t be so lucky.
Odorizzi implodes.
After a couple singles and a walk, Mitch Haniger would blast a grand slam into the left field seats to give the Mariners a 4-1 lead with no outs in the inning.
The Rays answered quickly in the bottom of the third. Kevin Kiermaier was hit to lead off the inning and promptly driven home by Bourjos on a double to left field.
After a lead off double by Jean Segura to start the top of the fourth, Alonso singled him home to quickly get the run back for Seattle. Nelson Cruz would continue to brutalize Rays pitching this season. With one away he would hit a two-run home run into right field to give Seattle a 7-2 lead.
Souza ignites the bats.
Steven Souza Jr has 25 home runs heading into Saturday night’s ballgame. None of them off a lefty.
Leading off the sixth for the Rays, that streak would come to an end. Souza deposited his 26th bomb of the season into the left field seats chipping into the Mariner’s lead, 7-3. Wilson Ramos has been white hot lately at the plate. After he singled to follow the Souza home run, Lucas Duda hit his 22nd home run of the year into right field and the Rays trailed by just two, 7-5, with still no one out.
Logan Morrison would come in to pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth. He would promptly put his 29th home run of the season into the left centerfield seats to pull the Rays to within a run. A strikeout by Kiermaier and a ground out by pinch-hitting Corey Dickerson would end the ballgame for Tampa Bay and push their losing streak to four.
Waiver move brings in more OF depth.
The Rays claimed outfielder, Cesar Puello, off waivers from the Angels. The 26-year old is out of options meaning a corresponding 25-man move is coming. He also fills the final opening on the 40-man roster.
Next up:
The Rays wrap up the three-game series with Seattle Sunday. LHP Blake Snell (1-6, 4.78) looks to salvage the finale.
