Rays 6, Angels 5
Record: 43-28 Half game out of first.
Attendance: 20,508 I don't know how many promotions were in play yesterday, but any attendance that tops 20 K is good, regardless.
Sunday's game, the last of the current homestand, boosted the Rays home record to 20-18. They'll be happy to get on the road Monday to begin a three-game set against the Yankees with their new DH Edwin Encarnacion, because they have the best road record in major league baseball, 23-10, just shy of .700. If they could figure out how to win that regularly at home, they'd run away with the AL East, regardless of who happens to be DHing for the Yankees.
Sunday's win, a hard fought contest that wasn't decided until Diego Castillo managed to get Kole Calhoun on a called third strike (that looked to be outside on replays) in the top of the ninth on a 3-2 count. He'd already given up a two-run homer to Mike Trout (19) three batters earlier and had a runner on second when he faced Calhoun. With Castillo's recent reputation as a closing disaster, this one ended up as a nail biter. Everyone in the building and at home had visions of another two-run homer that would have put the Rays down a run going into the bottom of the ninth. But it was a win, a home win at that, and the Rays take them any way they can get them.
Ryne Stanek and Jalen Beeks, the opener and bulker, gave up three runs in four innings, but Emilio Pagan, Colin Poche, who got his first major league win, and Adam Kolarek didn't give up any runs over the next four innings, which set the stage for Castillo, who gave up three hits and two runs. The box score, however, says merely that he earned his seventh save of the year.
In a related story, Jose Alvarado, who's been out somewhat mysteriously all month is officially back with the team, which assigned him to Port Charlotte to pitch himself back into game shape. Let's hope he gets back to his April game shape and not his May game shape. Officially he has lost four game and blown two others, his six saves coming primarily in the April early going.
Offensively the Rays managed nine hits, Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe continuing their hot hitting, including Lowe's 15th home run. Tommy Pham added his tenth homer and Kevin Kiermaier added his fifth triple. Then small ball took over, a sac fly, singles scoring runs, and a wild pitch adding another. They all counted and they were all needed
One hopeful sign is that Mike Zunino had a base hit. He's new this year to the Rays, but judging by his very slow start at the plate to start the season, and then his better hitting that followed, there may be hope for his slow start returning from the IL, his BA currently at .181, about 45 points lower than when he got hurt.
And today (Friday) the boys take on the Bronx Bombers. Hold on to your hats.
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