Friday, August 9. Game 117: A late win, but offense still mired down

Rays 5, Mariners 3

Record:  67-50

Attendance:  26,774


The Rays drew first blood in the second when Michael Brosseau grounded into a force play and drove in Matt Duffy.  In the third inning, Jesus Aguilar grounded to third and scored Tommy Pham.  The Mariners tied the game at two and the two teams drifted uninspired into the ninth, when the Rays scored three times:  on a walk, an error, and a force out.  It was hardly an offensive break through, but it was enough to beat the Mariners, who managed a third run on a homer by Ryan Court, a thirty-one-year-old rookie who has only 17 at-bats in the majors--and one home run.  Good for him.

Jalen Beeks, who has been struggling of late, started the game and lasted three and two-thirds, giving up five hits and two walks plus two runs, one earned.  Poche, Roe, Anderson, and Drake, who got the win (now 1-1) all preceded Emilio Pagan who got the save despite giving up the Court homer.

It wasn't pretty.  It offered no reassurance that the offense or pitching was good enough to prevail in a pennant race.  But it was a win in Seattle, which is a big deal.  The last time they won in Seattle, according to Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, was June 17, 2015--nine straight losses ago.  So maybe by shaking off the Seattle Curse, the Rays uncovered the key to success during this important stretch of the pennant race.

Charlie Morton on Saturday.

Injury update: Yandy Diaz's bruised foot has been upgraded to a hairline fracture and he will be out of action for the rest of the year, though there is some hope he might be available for the post-season--if there is one.