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The Tampa Bay Rays (16-3) defeated the Cincinnati Reds (7-11) 8-0 Wednesday afternoon. Despite losing the first game of the series on Monday, the Rays rebounded to win Tuesday’s game 10-0 and the series finale to take the series.
Starting Off Strong
In the first inning, the Rays scored six runs in the top of the first. It started with a 393-foot leadoff home run from Yandy Díaz to ignite the offense. This was Díaz’s second straight game with a home run and his sixth of the season. Tampa Bay leads the league in home runs with 19, one shy of the MLB record to start a season with a home run held by the 2019 Seattle Mariners.
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1648729598505656322?s=20
The Rays continued to stay hot in the top of the first with a pair of RBI doubles. One came from Isaac Paredes and the other from Manuel Margot. Josh Lowe also contributed with a RBI single. Ultimately, the Rays out hit the Reds 12-5.
The Rays came out SWINGING in the first! pic.twitter.com/wCxgUBM5WS
— Taylor Jenkins (@TJenkinsTampa) April 19, 2023
Pitching on Point
It was a tough day for Reds pitcher Levi Stoudt. In his major league debut, he gave up six runs and seven hits in four innings of work.
Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen got the start on the mound and put on a show, tossing five shutout innings. Rasmussen had a total of seven strikeouts, increasing his total to 26 on the season. He allowed just three hits and walked three Reds.
.@RaysBaseball righty Drew Rasmussen was critical of his walks as he examines his start Wednesday afternoon against the Reds. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/Z8OG9PShx1
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) April 19, 2023
Rays Standings
After winning the series opener 8-1, the Reds were outscored 18-0 in the final two games of the series. The second straight shutout win over the Reds ties the Rays with Detroit, Cleveland and Texas for the most shutouts through the first 19 games of the season.
Tampa Bay has gone 10-0 at home, while they are 6-3 on the road.
The Rays’ next opponent is the Chicago White Sox at home. They begin a three-game series with Chicago on Friday with first pitch at 6:40 p.m.
