An eighth and ninth inning rally came up just short as the Rays fall to the Orioles 6-5 in the series finale.
ST. PETERSBURG — Tonight looked as if the Rays were going to continue the impressive streak that they’re on as they produced one run after their first two batters of the ball game.
However, the Orioles held a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom half of the eighth inning.
Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Diaz led off the eighth inning with back to back walks. Mike Zunino got the game to within one run when he hit a two-run double to right field scoring both Choi and Diaz.
Jose Alvarado did what he does best, allowing no base runners as he stuck out the side in the ninth inning to keep the score a one run game. It’s finally starting to become nationally noticed that Alvarado has some of, if not the, nastiest stuff in all of major league baseball.
In the bottom of the ninth, Avisail Garcia hit a 3-2 pitch about as far as you possible could to centerfield to tie the game at five. According to StatCast, Garcia’s home run traveled 447 feet. The ball was hit into the D-ring catwalk and stuck. The ball literally still hasn’t come down yet. That was the sixth time in Tropicana Field history that a ball was hit into the D-ring catwalk.
“I thought that ball was hit 500 feet,” Tommy Pham said after that game talking about Garcia’s home run.
When we informed him the ball traveled only 447 feet with an exit velocity of 112.8, “Oh that’s a lie. StatCast is wrong. I had it at 50 feet further.”
Pesky Rickard wins it for O’s
The former Ray, and known Ray killer, hit a two out RBI double in the 11th to give the Orioles a 6-5 lead.
Joey Rickard collected four hits on the evening, tying a career high. This was Rickard’s first career go-ahead hit in extra innings in his career.
He is a career .311 hitter against the Rays with six home runs and 28 RBI in 36 career games against his former team.
Beeks struggles in outing
This was not the best version of Jalen Beeks that we’ve seen. He struggled in his three innings of work allowing six hits with three earned runs.
“No, if the only thing that was wrong was that he couldn’t get the ball out of the zone,” manager Kevin Cash said when speaking of Beeks’ outing.
Beeks threw 66 pitches, 45 for strikes.
“He was attacking, which we ask him to do that. You are going to take your chances when you pound the strike zone. It was one of those days that they saw him an they got some hits, but no, I didn’t think anything was wrong with him.”
Pham’s new streak
Pham had himself a game after snapping his franchise record 48 game on-base streak. He ended the game going 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base.
“I’m doing a good job controlling the strike zone,” Pham said. “I’m not chasing much. I’m laying off tough pitches.”
This was Pham’s fourth career four hit game. It snapped an 0-for-10 skid at the plate. The four hits raised his average to .286 for the season.
Up Next
Game one between the first place Rays and the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox. The matchup will feature Ryne Stanek (0-0; 1.93) to open squaring off against Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2; 7.98). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EST.
