ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays lost a little momentum and the game 4-3 to the Tigers on Saturday, but they might have regained a key pitcher.
After a rocky start to the game that seemed to extend his recent immense struggles, allowing four runs in facing seven batters, lefty Ryan Yarbrough figured something out, retiring his last 13 batters (and 15 of 16) in working through the sixth inning.
The loss dropped the Rays’ American League-best record to 92-57 and slowed their march toward clinching a third straight playoff berth and second straight East Division title.
They still hold a 7½-game division lead over the Red Sox with 13 to play and a magic number of six to clinch. With the Yankees losing and dropping to third in the wild-card race, the Rays’ magic number for a playoff spot went down to five.
The game drew a season-high 22,921; tickets have dropped to $10 for this final homestead and some concession prices are reduced.
The Tigers got off to a quick start in what looked to be another rough outing for Yarbrough, as Jeimer Candelario hit a three-run homer with two outs in the first.
Dustin Garneau led off the second with a homer to extended the lead to 4-0.
At that point, Yarbrough over his past five-plus innings (covering three games) had allowed 18 runs on 22 hits, with 27 of 42 batters reaching base.
He allowed one more single, with two outs in the second, but then something changed, and decidedly for the better. He retired his next 13 hitters, getting through the sixth inning.
The Rays, meanwhile, worked their way back into the game. They got two runs fairly quickly in the second, when Manuel Margot led off with a single against Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal, and Jordan Luplow followed with a long and loud homer to left.
The pulled within 4-3 in the fourth. Margot led off with a walk against reliever Jose Urena, went to third on Luplow’s single and scored on a double-play grounder by Ji-Man Choi.
Tigers centerfielder Derek Hill was taken off the field on a cart after a collision with Choi and an awkward tumble at first base after trying to bunt his way on. To make it worse, he was called out for interference as he was hit by the throw while running inside the baseline.
The teams conclude the weekend and season series with a matinee Sunday.
• • •
Sign up for the Rays Report weekly newsletter to get fresh perspectives on the Tampa Bay Rays and the rest of the majors from sports columnist John Romano.
Never miss out on the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida college sports and more. Follow our Tampa Bay Times sports team on Twitter and Facebook.
"lose" - Google News
September 19, 2021 at 05:59AM
https://ift.tt/3AiJm4F
Rays lose to Tigers, but Ryan Yarbrough might have found something - Tampa Bay Times
"lose" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3fa3ADu https://ift.tt/2VWImBB
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Rays lose to Tigers, but Ryan Yarbrough might have found something - Tampa Bay Times"
Post a Comment