It’s hard to believe this strange and unique season has almost come to an end. The Rays wrapped up their second-to-last series of the season this afternoon, with only three games left to play until they hang it up until next year (where we certainly hope we’ll get to see them play back in a real MLB stadium… no shade to the Tarpons). In their last game against the division rival Baltimore Orioles, they had Drew Rasmussen on the mound, up against Cade Povich for the Orioles.
Jake Mangum got things
going right off the bat (pun intended), with a leadoff single in the first. This was, unfortunately, followed by three outs in a row to end the inning scoreless. In the home half, Gunnar Henderson got a two-out single, followed by Ryan Mountcastle safely reaching on a throwing error by Carson Williams. Henderson was then caught stealing third, and though the Orioles asked for a reply review, the call on the field was upheld and the inning ended.
Richie Palacios walked to get the second inning going. Then Nick Fortes singled right behind him. Too bad a double play and a strikeout followed, once again leaving baserunners stranded and no runs on the board. Jeremiah Jackson got a leadoff single for the Orioles in the bottom of the inning, then Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo walked. Rasmussen did manage to turn things around, though, getting three outs in a row to end the inning.
In the third, Bob Seymour continued the trend of getting the first batter on with a leadoff single. On out later we got back-to-back singles from Yandy Diaz and and Junior Caminero. A Christopher Morel double brought in two runs and got the Rays on the board first.
Palacios then hit a sac fly to bring another run in. That would be it for the Rays that inning, but they were up 3-0 by the end.
With one out in the home half, Rasmussen’s day was done, and he was pulled for Jesse Scholtens, effectively making him the Opener for the game. After the second out, Ryan Mountcastle hit a solo homer. It was the only run the Orioles would get in the inning but it was a big one.
In the fourth, the Rays went 1-2-3, ending their streak of baserunners. There was also some positional shuffling and Everson Pereira was replaced by Tristan Gray. Whatever they were doing, it worked, because the Orioles went three-up, three-down.
Mangum got another single to open the fifth inning. Then, with one out, Junior Caminero singled. A Christopher Morel double play ended the inning, though. In the home half, Dylan Beavers got a one-out walk. Then, following the second out, Henderson singled. Mountcastle continued his unexpected domination over the Rays with a single to score Beavers, so at the end of the fifth, the score was 3-2 Rays.
Palacios singled to lead off the sixth. With one out, Carson Williams walked. A Gray double brought one run home and it was almost two, but Williams got tagged out at home.
That was it for Povich, who was replaced by Yaramil Hiraldo. Bob Seymour then singled to score Gray.
Mangum singled and stole second, but despite his heroic efforts, the Rays would have to settle for the two runs they had. In the home half, the Orioles went 1-2-3.
Kade Strowd was next out of the O’s pen, I guess proving you can never have too many guys named Cade/Kade on your pitching staff. He got the Rays out in order. Thankfully, the Orioles had the same kind of luck in the bottom of the inning.
The revolving door of the Orioles bullpen broguht Rico Garcia out next. Nick Fortes got a leadoff single, with Carson Williams and Tristan Gray singling right behind him to load the bases. Despite being in the perfect position to blow the game wide open, the Rays went down in order with the next three batters. If you’re wondering if this would come back to haunt them later, it absolutely would. In the bottom of the inning, Mountcastle got a one-out walk. Jeremiak Jackson then singled. Cowser struck out, but Mountcastle was able to bring it in to score thanks to a wild pitch. Kevin Kelly came in from the Rays bullpen, but a Coby Mayo homer tied things up at 5-5. A pinch-hitting Adley Rutschman tripled, but the Orioles weren’t able to bring in any more runs.
With roughly a million positional changes by the Orioles for the top of the ninth, they also brought in Keegan Akin to pitch. He got the Rays out in order, so they were going to have to cross their fingers and toes for extra innings. Alas, the opportunity wouldn’t come, because on the first batter of the home half, Dylan Beavers hit a walk-off home run to end the game.
Final: Orioles 6, Rays 5
