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The Tampa Bay Rays resumed regular season play over the weekend, becoming the first team in the American League to reach 60 wins. This shouldn’t be much of a surprise considering the remarkable start to the season the team had. However, after going through a bit of a skid heading into the All Star break, the Rays opened the second half of the season by taking two of three against the Kansas City Royals.
Royals Series Recap
Tampa Bay had to wait to get their series started after the first game of the series was postponed due to rain. After getting an extra day off, the Rays played a doubleheader on Saturday. With a pair of solo home runs from Jose Siri and Francisco Mejia, Tampa took an early 2-0 lead in Game 1 and never looked back. Right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow was on the bump for the Rays. Glasnow had an impressive outing, allowing just one earned run in six innings of work. After knocking in some insurance runs, Tampa Bay saw its lead grow to 6-1 by the ninth inning before handing the ball to Javy Guerra to close it out.
Siri opens the post All-Star break scoring 💥 pic.twitter.com/bBF1qpiqjt
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 15, 2023
Neither team had to wait long to play the next game of the series. Shawn Armstrong took the mound for the Rays in Game 2 of the doubleheader. Although Armstrong got the start, Tampa Bay put together a bullpen day. Manager Kevin Cash called on multiple arms from his bullpen due to the depth issues doubleheaders can create.
To open the scoring, Randy Arozarena hit an RBI single in the top of the third inning, but the Rays found themselves trailing 2-1 in the seventh. Josh Lowe answered the task, hitting a triple to right center field to tie the game in the inning. Then, Luke Raley recorded an RBI single in the top of the eighth to take a 3-2 lead and a sacrifice fly brought in an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Pete Fairbanks closed the game out in the ninth, giving Tampa Bay a series victory.
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Third Game in 24 Hours
Tampa Bay may have run out of gas in the final game of the series, losing 8-4. A four run second inning for the Royals proved pivotal for Tampa Bay Kansas City grew their lead to 6-0 in the fifth inning, but despite a four-run eighth inning from the Rays, the team failed to make a comeback.
Tampa Travels to Texas
The Rays will stay on the road and begin a three-game series with the talented Texas Rangers Monday night. Both teams are in first place in their respective division, so a future postseason matchup could be on hand. First pitch Monday is at 8:05 p.m. from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Shane McClanahan returns to the mound after being on the injured list since June 30. He will be facing right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning of the Rangers. Both of these lineups are highlighted by young talent up and down the roster.
Game 2 of the series will start at 8:05 p.m. while Wednesday’s game has a 2:05 p.m. start time.
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