Rays 2, Red Sox 1
Record: 17 - 9
Attendance: 34, 773
The Rays could only manage four hits and two runs against their old friend David Price, who struck out seven and walked three in his six innings of work. But they made that tiny offensive assault hold up in this 2-1 victory that dropped Price's record to 1-2.
The Rays side of the ledger was better than their four hits might suggest. Yandy Diaz continues to surprise with his power, leading off the game with his seventh home run to center field, 428 feet with an exit velocity of 105.1 mph. This is the same Yandy Diaz who spent parts of two seasons with the Cleveland Indians and could manage only one home run.
Then there is catcher Mike Zunino, who opened the season in a deep slump and has been hitting like an All Star for the last couple of weeks. In the top of the fourth inning tonight he lasered (113 mph) a single off the Green Monster in left to drive in the winning run in the person of Tommy Pham who had doubled. That, of course, would have been enough for the Rays' catcher on most nights, but in the bottom of the fourth Rafael Devers took a long lead off first base and Zunino threw behind him for the pretty pick off. More revenge. It made up (sort of) for Christian Vazquez picking off Tommy Pham to end a game and a rally last weekend.
And the Rays' pitching held up. Charlie Morton went six scoreless innings giving up two hits and four walks for this third win of the year against no losses. At that point Kevin Cash went into his "third of an inning" strategy: Roe (1/3), Kolarek (2/3), Castillo (1/3--long enough to give up Mookie Betts's fifth home run), Alvarado (2/3). Emilio Pagan, suddenly the savior of the bullpen, pitched the ninth and got his third save. The bullpen is leaky, however, and Craig Kimbrel must be waiting for a phone call.
And so this series which was supposed to be a three-game set but became a two-game set because of yesterday's rainout, will either be a split or a Rays' sweep.
Attendance note in the Tampa Bay Times, by beat writer Marc Topkin (Sunday, April 28): "Attendance (averaging 14,009, 29th out of 30 in the majors) will be in the spotlight as the Rays within a few months will let St. Petersburg know if they would consider a new stadium at the Trop site, or elsewhere in the city, their only current legal option. But new Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told the Tampa Bay Times she 'will do what I can to have the Rays move to Tampa.' It will be interesting, if the Rays say no to St. Pete, if Mayor Rick Kriseman retains a regional view and makes a deal, albeit on different terms, to allow them to look again in Tampa. Also to see what sites Castor has in mind and what people (Jeff Vinik?) she can get involved."
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