By late Sunday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Rays had secured their 55th win at Tropicana Field. The victory marked the second most home wins in a single season by the Rays, second only to the fabled 2008 team. It also capped off an 8-1 home stand and series win over the Boston Red Sox.
By Sunday evening, their magic number to clinch the AL East title for the first time since 2021 was down to just two thanks to another Arizona Diamondbacks win over the Yankees. In reality, that magic number is really just one if they win just one of the four upcoming games against the second place Yankees in the Bronx. If they can win the East, they will secure home field advantage throughout the ALDS and ALCS, along with a first round bye.
So, to recap, it was a good day in Tampa Bay.
This one was all Rays from the first inning on. After Griffin Jax tossed a scoreless first, the Rays bats got to work against Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval. Back in the lineup after a scheduled day off, Yandy Diaz drew a leadoff walk. Vilade then reached on a HBP, setting up first and second for Junior Caminero who singled to left and loaded the bases for DeLuca.
DeLuca roped a double down the left field line and drove in the first two runs of the game.
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Chandler Simpson followed with a two-RBI single of his own and opened this game up. Five batters in and the Rays had opened up a 4-0 and Patrick Sandoval had yet to record an out.
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Sandoval did stop the bleeding and escaped the first with no further damage. But, the damage was done. Jax continued to throw up zeroes and then in the fifth, the Rays struck again. This time it was Mesa Jr. with a solo blast to right center. It was his 14th of the year and gave the Rays a 5-0 lead.
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Trevor Story ruined the shutout in the top of the ninth and hit a one-out solo home run to left. That was it for the Sox though and the 5-1 score would become final.
After the four run first, the Rays arms took over. Again, Jax was solid. He tossed five scoreless innings, punched out five, walked two, and allowed just three hits. Suler, Hopkins, and Matz combined to toss three scoreless in relief. Johnson ran into some trouble in the ninth and surrendered the blast to Story, and was relieved by Kelly who shut the door, recording the final out. Rays pitching struck out nine in total and the only walks issued were those by Jax.
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Despite only mustering four hits, the Rays offense did enough in this one, mostly in the first inning. But, as we have seen all year, if the offense can get the pitching staff a lead, they very seldom surrender it.
The Rays will have Monday off prior to a double header in the Bronx on Tuesday. With a win on Tuesday, or Wednesday, or Thursday against the Yankees, they will be celebrating a division title in Yankee Stadium.
At 95-60 with seven games remaining, 100 wins is not out of the question. If they reach triple digit wins, it would be just the second time in franchise history, the first being 2021. First up, win #96.
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