Category: Baseball

The Texas Rangers scored eight runs while the Houston Astros scored zero runs.

The top of the fifth was a big moment for the Rangers as Alejandro Osuna ended the daily no-hit watch with an infield single and then Jake Burger collected the first extra base hit of the weekend for Texas when he smacked a two-run dong to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

That home run meant that Texas wouldn’t be shut out today as they doubled their run output for the series with one swing.

The cold, factual nature of the above may have come off as sarcastic but I truly am grateful as the home run supported Nathan Eovaldi’s efforts today and eventually that darned dam finally broke for the Rangers at the plate.

Indeed Texas turned to Eovaldi with the requirement that he keep putting up zeros while the lineup was working through whatever the heck has been troubling them and he did just that with seven innings of scoreless ball on five hits and a couple of walks. Eovaldi struck out eight Astros as he picked up his fifth win of the year.

That win was all but assured when the Rangers added five runs in the top of the seventh when Burger again came through with a two-run double with the bases loaded.

Texas has had a devil of a time delivering on bases loaded chances, and producing big innings, so the five-run seventh had to feel cathartic. Following Burger, Kyle Higashioka — who also threw out a would-be base stealer and made some laser precision ABS challenges behind the plate — singled in two more runs and Brandon Nimmo — who robbed a home run earlier in the day — doubled in the fifth and final run of the inning.

In the ninth, Higashioka collected his second home run of the year, a solo shot to finish off the scoring. Meanwhile, reliever Gavin Collyer bounced back from his shakiest outing as a big leaguer against Arizona last Tuesday with a couple of strikeouts in two easy shutout innings.

The first two games of this series were certainly annoying as evident by the fact that the Rangers actually out-scored the Astros 9-6 in this series but come away down a leg in the fight for the Silver Boot, but claiming the finale at least allows them to leave Houston with a victory and some good vibes at the plate.

Player of the Game: Eovaldi deserves a hat tip for coming through inning after inning as he waited for the lineup to catch up to him. That said, you have to acknowledge games like today from Burger and Higashioka when they come.

Burger produced two extra base hits that provided the bulk of the scoring as the Texas first baseman collected four RBI and scored two runs. Meanwhile, Higgy homered and drove in three runs while being a difference-maker behind the plate. A much-appreciated impactful day from the No. 7 and No. 9 hitters in the lineup.

Up Next: The Rangers next travel to Colorado to take on the Rockies with LHP MacKenzie Gore expected to make the start in the opener for Texas against LHP Jose Quintana for Colorado.

The Monday evening first pitch from Coors Field is scheduled for 7:40 pm CDT and you can watch it via the Rangers Sports Network.

After a close win Friday and a narrow loss Saturday, the Atlanta Braves left no doubt in their Sunday series finale against the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park.

The Braves leapt out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and a 5-0 advantage through two, coasting to an 8-1 win to remain unbeaten in home series this season and close out a 4-2 homestand.

Buoyed by a strong start from Grant Holmes, it was Braves’ 11th straight game allowing three runs or less, which is the franchise’s longest-such streak since the 2002 Braves did so in 12 straight games that July.

The Braves were also one out away from their fifth shutout of the season as Nick Sogard delivered a two-out double when down to his last strike to score Connor Wong.

With the victory, the Braves are 7-1 in rubber matches this season, including 5-0 in home rubber matches.

After Brayan Bello struggled to begin the season as a starter and found more success in his last two outings pitching behind an opener, it was a blessing for the Braves that Boston elected to move him back into his starter role.

Austin Riley tagged him with a three-run homer to left in a 30-pitch first inning to stake the Braves to an early lead. It was Riley’s seventh homer of the season and fourth of the month.

Riley also added a double in the fifth, finishing with multiple extra-base hits for the first time in exactly a month.

That alone proved to be more than enough for Holmes, who delivered one of his better starts of the season. He allowed five hits (three doubles) over six innings of work, but stranded all six runners, holding the Red Sox hitless in three at-bats with runners in scoring position.

It was his second scoreless outing in nine starts this season and his fourth time tossing six-plus innings. A rain (HAIL?!) delay ended his outing after six innings, although he was likely done anyways considering he was at 87 pitches.

The Braves loaded the bases with no outs in the second against Bello and tacked on two more runs on a Drake Baldwin run-scoring walk and an RBI groundout by Matt Olson, who finished the Boston series 0-for-11.

Atlanta tacked on another run in the fourth on Mike Yastrzemski’s leadoff homer into the Chop House. After he entered the week with no homers and six RBIs in 38 games, he finished the week with two homers and six RBIs in five games.

The Braves made it 7-0 in the fifth when Riley laced a leadoff double to left and came around to score on Dominic Smith’s single.

Baldwin closed the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the eighth, robbed of extra bases by a leaping grab in center from Ceddanne Rafaela but still bringing home his second RBI of the day to reclaim the team lead with 39.

Reynaldo Lopez followed Holmes with two scoreless innings. Kinley allowed the lone run after retiring the first two batters he faced.

Up Next

No rest for the Braves, who continue a stretch of 13 games in as many days by kicking off a four-game series at Miami on Monday night. J.R. Ritchie will be making his fifth start.

Blue Jays 4 Tigers 1

We got more than two runs. Or actually, we got two runs twice:

• Two in the first: A Vladimir Guerrero home run (what a great thing it was to see that). Daulton Varsho followed with a double off the center field wall (homer in 12 of 30 MLB parks, including Rogers Centre). Jesús Sánchez singled him to third, and a Jack Flaherty wild pitch scored him.
• Yohendrick Piñango flied out to deep center (homer in 10 parks, including RC) to start the inning. Vlad single and Varsho tripled. A Sánchez sac fly got our fourth run home.

We only had six hits and one walk on the day. Vlad and Varsho had two each (and all the extra base hits).

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On the pitching side, Kevin Gausman was great. He went six innings, allowing just four hits (all singles) with five strikeouts. He was excellent. Left at 97 pitches.

Yariel Rodríguez got the next four outs and then gave up a very, very soft ground single (33 feet from the plate when Andrés Giménez).

Joe Mantiply came in and wasn’t great. He went single, walk, groundball force at second (Ernie Clement, I figured he could have touched third and then gone to first, but getting the one out was big). That got the Tigers the run. Mantiply threw three straight balls to Riley Green, the next baller, then got two strikes and a weak ground ball to end the inning.

Tyler Rogers came in for the save. He didn’t make it easy either, walking the leadoff guy. Then got a ground ball to short that Giménez made a nice play on and a great throw to second. Schneider tried to turn it, but was just late. It was called out on the field, but the Tigers challenged. It was a very fast challenge as it was obvious. A popout to short got the second out. Tyler went seven pitches to Spencer Torkeleson before getting strike three right on the outside corner (Tigers challenged again, but it caught the zone). Save #1 for Rogers.

After a challenge in last night’s hockey game that seemed to take forever, I appreciated the speed of the challenges in this game.

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The bad moment of the game was when Giménez and Piñango collided while going for a popout. Both were calling the ball. The rule of thumb is that the outfielder takes charge, but then Giménez seems to be the captain of the infield. Hard to blame either player.

Jays of the Day: Gausman (0.26 WPA), Varsho (0.19), and Vlad (0.12).

No one gets the ‘Other Award’. The low mark went to Lenyn Sosa (-0.4) and Ernie Clement (-0.4). Sosa hasn’t shown anything this season. Daulton made a couple of good catches in the outfield.

Tomorrow the Jays face the Yankees in da Bronx.

The rubber match of a three-game weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays took place on a sunny, summer-like Sunday afternoon in Detroit. Alas, the Tigers dropped the finale and thus the series by a 4-1 score.

Jack Flaherty made his tenth start for the Tigers, and his troubles have been well-documented this season. His troubles can begin with a lack of control, putting hitters on via hit or walk, and then he loses his concentration and all hell breaks loose. He needs to be able to re-focus when he gets rattled; anyone who’s ever played baseball knows how big the mental side of the game is. As Yogi Berra once observed, “Baseball is ninety percent mental; the other half is physical.”

The veteran Kevin Gausman made his tenth start for Toronto today. He’s been his normal, dependable self; in his fifth season in Toronto he’s consistenly turned out seasons with a 3-4 ERA, roughly 180 innings pitched, a WHIP of about 1.1, and about one home run surrendered per nine innings. You could set your watch by this guy.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has been in a massive slump, laser-beamed a too-inside fastball over the left field fence for a 1-0 Toronto lead with one out in the first. Daulton Varsho followed with a double off the top of the right-field wall, and Jesús Sánchez singled to centre to put runners on the corners. A wild pitch scored Varsho to put Toronto up 2-0, and you really had to wonder if the first inning was going to spiral out of control for Flaherty. But after a flyout pushed Sánchez up to third, Ernie Clement grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

The Blue Jays added another pair of runs in the top of the third: Guerrero singled, scored on a Varsho triple, who then scored on a Sánchez sacrifice fly. When the dust settled it was 4-0.

Aside from dealing with Guerrero and Varsho, though, Flaherty was actually pretty good today; his final inning saw him get a couple of flyouts and a strikeout. His final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 K. Notably, he didn’t walk anyone; while his command certainly wasn’t as crisp as it could’ve been, not walking anyone was a big step up.

The Tigers couldn’t get a lot going on offence while Flaherty was pitching, though: there were some singles scattered around, but getting a runner past first base proved to be too much of a challenge. For example: in the sixth, Dillon Dingler got his second hit of the day, a single to centre with one out. But then Colt Keith flew out and Riley Greene struck out, and that was that.

Burch Smith relieved Flaherty in the seventh, and he gave up a harmless single to Davis Schneider but that was all. He carried on to the eighth and got Guerrero to fly out, and Enmanel De Jesus took over to face Varsho, the lefty, who he walked. A pair of flyouts ended the inning, though.

The Tigers got their first runner past first base in the bottom of the eighth: Wenceel Pérez led off with a single, and with one out Kevin McGonigle singled, putting runners on the corners. Dingler walked to load the bases, and Jahmai Jones was called-upon to pinch hit, and he hit a slow grounder to third base; Clement got one out at second but it was hit too slowly for a double play, allowing a run to score to make it 4-1 with two out.

Alas, Greene then grounded out to second and the side was retired. That was a big-league squander, for sure.

De Jesus carried on into the ninth and got a pair of quick outs; Brandon Valenzuela singled up the middle, but Schneider grounded out to second for the third out.

Submariner Tyler Rogers came on for Toronto in the ninth. I was once watching a minor-league game and a submariner came into the game; I watched him warm up and thought to myself, “How in the world does anyone get a hit off someone like this?” Well, on the first pitch he threw to a batter he cracked a home run, so clearly I don’t know anything about anything. Anyway, on this particular afternoon, Matt Vierling walked, and a Gage Workman grounder to shortstop was initially called a double play but upon review was just a forceout at second. But Zach McKinstry flew out to centre for the second out, and Torkelson struck out looking to end the game.

On Monday the Tigers travel to Cleveland to start a four-game series with the team that currently leads the American League Central, which looks these days like a division that’s allergic to winning records.

Final score: Blue Jays 4, Tigers 1

Notes and Commemorations

• Ty Madden, who was hit on the forearm on a comebacker Friday night, was placed on the Injured List; Will Vest returned to the Tigers in his place.
• As has been the case all weekend, there were plenty of Blue Jays fans that made the trip down the 401 to Detroit to see their team play on real grass. Me, I always go down the 402 instead and cross at Port Huron, because that London-to-Windsor stretch on the 401 is easily the most boring stretch of highway on the continent.
• This weekend in Canada is the Victoria Day long weekend, in which we celebrate the birthday of a monarch who’s been dead for 125 years. Her birthday was May 24; the holiday is celebrated on the Monday in May which is either on, or just before, May 24th. It’s the unofficial start of the summer season in Canada: there are fireworks, trips to the cottage, and ritualistic animal sacrifices all across the country. It’s great.

With Zack Wheeler going against Paul Skenes, it looked like we were in for a pitcher’s duel on Sunday. And that’s exactly what we got for five innings or so. But eventually, Skenes faltered while Wheeler stayed strong, and the Phillies emerged with a 6-0 victory over the Pirates that completed a sweep and put them above .500 for the first time since.

The aces were dominating through the first four innings. Each team had just one hit, and it looked like it might come down to which ace blinked first.

In the fifth, Skenes was the one who blinked. Adolis Garcia led off the frame with a walk, and advanced to third on a J.T. Realmuto single. A Justin Crawford groundout got the Phillies’ first run home, and a Trea Turner single brought home the second.

Sunday Trea pic.twitter.com/mfgKlNdrUS

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 17, 2026

For most teams, that’s about as much as they can hope to get off Skenes in a given game, but the Phillies weren’t done. Bryce Harper started off the fifth with a blast to centerfield to make it 3-0.

BRYCE BOMB! pic.twitter.com/HgiFylG4Y0

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 17, 2026

Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh followed with hits to chase Skenes from the game and gave the Phillies a crack at the Pirates’ much less imposing bullpen. Pirates’ reliever Isaac Mattson began his stint by hitting Garcia (his second HBP of the day, maybe he owes the Pirates money?) and allowing an RBI double to Bryson Stott.

5️⃣-0 pic.twitter.com/qIZuwDIiOM

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 17, 2026

Unlike Skenes, Wheeler continued to cruise. He came close to giving up a run in the sixth when a hit by Brandon Lowe was originally ruled a home run, but review showed it was a double aided by fan interference.

Aside from that, Wheeler was never seriously threatened. His final tally: Seven innings, zero runs, four hits, one walk, and eight strikeouts.

A dominant day from Zack Wheeler 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OvI5bGjssP

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 17, 2026

The Phillies tacked on a run in the eighth on a Bryson Stott laser of a home run, and it felt like they were rubbing it in the Pirates’ faces a bit.

It was a great weekend for the Phillies in Pittsburgh. They had a massive comeback on Friday night and then recorded two dominating wins behind two of the best pitchers in baseball. The biggest winner of the weekend might by Cristopher Sanchez, who might have seized the unofficial title of “best pitcher in the National League” from Skenes.

The Phillies will try to keep the good times going on Monday as they return home to face the Reds. Andrew Painter will be on the mound, and the hope is that maybe he learned a thing or two from watching his ace teammates over the weekend.

As the Rivalry Weekend comes to a close, the Ohio Cup returns to Cleveland for now. In Game 3 of this weekend series, the Cleveland Guardians took the series closer and the series from the Cincinnati Reds.

Gavin Williams was given an additional day of rest after switching his spot in the lineup with Joey Cantillo. Gavin had another fantastic quality start today, throwing 6.0 innings with 2R, 8H, 0BB, and 7Ks on 93 pitches, giving the Guards bullpen a nice reprieve to end the week.

Gavin was given plenty of run support to ease some stress from his start. The Guardians decided to not play Guards Ball and to host a mini-HR derby.

In the bottom of the first José Ramírez drew a one-out walk, a mistake on Brady Singer that would be immediately punished. Chase DeLauter watched a sinker go over the plate for strike one. The next pitch, an inside slider, was launched 371 feet to right field for a quick two-run home run to start the game.

In the bottom of the third, Chase DeLauter hit a one-out single to center to reach base. Kyle Manzardo took a page from CDL and launched his own two-run home run, 382 feet to right.

Brayan Rocchio got in on the home run fun. In the bottom of the fourth, with one-out, Rocchio worked a 2-2 count then slapped a sweeper low and over the plate 388 feet to right center.

In the bottom of the fifth, with a new pitcher on the mound, Kyle Manzardo slapped a first pitch, one-out home run 406 feet to right center for his second home run of the game!

Tim Herrin came on to pitch the seventh inning. His only base runner was a one-out walk to Matt McLain. Other than that, Herrin struck out 3 to retire the side. The bottom of the seventh saw the return of more home runs!

Travis Bazzana hit a one-out single, but was caught stealing second as he over slid the bag. Steven Kwan drew a two-out walk and Angel Martínez tacked on his own two-run home run to put the Guardians up 8-2 over the Reds.

Codi Heuer replaced Tim Herrin in the top of the eighth. He had a similar outing to Herrin’s. His only baserunner was a walk to Sal Stewart. Heuer struck out the first two batters and got a pop out to retire the side with only 13 pitches.

The bottom of the eighth started with Rocchio being hit by pitch. José finally got in on the home runs with a fly ball to center, hit 407 feet to score two more runs.

All of Cleveland’s runs came on home runs today. When is the last time this team has scored double digits, solely on home runs? With this team having felt on the precipice of a offensive breakout for seemingly weeks now, but just falling short, maybe they just needed some warm weather to get things going.

Codi Heuer closed it out for Cleveland, giving up a one-out single and double. Matt McLain ran himself into an out as Blake Dunn made his way to third.

The Guards did allow another run late in the ninth on a misplayed ball by Daniel Schneemann. It didn’t matter for long as Cleveland got the final out to close it on this game.

If today was a preview to what this summer will look like as the heat and humidity climbs, I am quite excited.

The Dodgers look to sweep the Angels on Sunday. Roki Sasaki faces Grayson Rodriguez.

Today’s #Dodgers lineup at Angels: pic.twitter.com/4rT4d6upxi

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 17, 2026

SUNDAY GAME INFO

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Angels
• Stadium: Angel Stadium
• Time: 1:07 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: Am 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 (Spanish)

With Blake Snell having elbow surgery on Tuesday, Tyler Glasnow on the injured list with back spasms, and River Ryan only one start back from a minor league injured list stint, the Dodgers had five starting pitchers for their six-man rotation. So it makes perfect sense that they acquired left-hander Eric Lauer from the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday for cash considerations.

Lauer was in a similar position on the depth chart in Toronto, and said after the use of an opener before his April 17 game, “It’s definitely different. To be real blunt, I hate it. I can’t stand it.” More from SportsNet:

“It messes with your pre-game routine,” he said. “We’re creatures of habit. It changes the rhythm and routine. It’s a little harder to time things out…

“You can make it work the best you can. Hopefully, it’s not something that we will continue doing. But that’s above my pay grade.”

It didn’t help that Lauer wasn’t pitching well for the Blue Jays. After a strong 2025 season, this year he struggled with a 6.69 ERA and 5.82 xERA in eight games, including six starts. He struck out 26 and walked 16 in his 36 1/3 innings, with his 11 home runs atop the American League when he was designated for assignment on Monday.

In his eight-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, and Blue Jays, Lauer has a sparkling 2.69 ERA in 15 games, including 13 starts against the Dodgers, with 69 strikeouts and 27 unintentional walks in 77 innings. That includes 5 2/3 scoreless innings in two appearances in the 2025 World Series, pitching in Games 1 and 3.

Lauer is making $4.4 million this season after losing his salary arbitration case in the offseason, with about $3.17 million remaining. He’ll be a free agent at season’s end.

To make room for Lauer on the 40-man roster, pitcher Brusdar Graterol was moved to the 60-day injured list. Graterol, working his way back from 2024 shoulder surgery, pitched in four rehab games for Triple-A Oklahoma City before getting shut down this week after pitching on Tuesday.

Graterol tweeted on Saturday, “Baseball is not easy. But it’s no reason to give up. LFG.”

Baseball is not easy

But it's no reason to give up.
LFG

— brusdar graterol (@BrusdarGraterol) May 16, 2026

In the middle of the sixth inning of a game where the Atlanta Braves were firmly in control of things against the Boston Red Sox, the skies suddenly opened up. First, they were able to play through a bit of hail but once they went out there for the bottom of the sixth inning, the bottom completely fell out and the grounds crew was forced to stop play.

The tarp is going on the field and we are currently in a rain delay. We will provide updates as soon as they are available.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 17, 2026

They’re not anticipating this to be a long delay (just one of those pop-up storms) but there’s still a pause in play. We’ll let you in on any updates that may come up soon, so stay tuned.

UPDATE [3:24 p.m. ET]: The tarp is already coming off of the field so I’d imagine that play will resume shortly.

UPDATE [3:33 p.m. ET]: Straight from the Braves TV crew, they’re planning to restart the game at 3:40 p.m. ET.

UPDATE [3:49 p.m ET]: It’s a bit later than expected but the game should be starting shortly after you read this. Let’s see if the Braves can hold on!

It’s series finale time, as the San Francisco Giants take on the Oakland/Sacramento/Vegas Athletics for the third game of the series. I’m writing this before the first game, so here’s hoping that the Giants are going for a sweep, or at least a series win today. But who knows! You, probably.

If the scheduled starters have held over these few days, then it’s righty Adrian Houser for the Giants and lefty Jeffrey Springs for the A’s. Houser is making his ninth start, and is 1-4 with a 5.79 ERA, a 5.63 FIP, and 23 strikeouts to 14 walks in 42 innings. Springs is making his 10th start, and is 3-3 with a 4.22 ERA, a 4.21 FIP, and 44 strikeouts to 15 walks in 49 innings.

Enjoy the game, everyone. Go Giants!

Game #47

Who: San Francisco Giants vs. Athletics

Where: Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California

When: 1:05 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

Jorge Polanco, sidelined with left Achilles bursitis, likely won’t be at full strength the rest of the season, according to Carlos Mendoza.

Polanco has resumed some baseball activities and will travel with the team to Washington, but the manager said he’ll have to deal with the injury indefinitely.

“He’s gonna feel it,’’ Mendoza said. “We have to keep it to a point where [it’s] ‘I can tolerate this.’ Because if not, he’s gonna be shut down for a long period of time.”

It’s been an awful start for Polanco, who has been limited to 14 games while dealing with Achilles and wrist injuries. And he didn’t play well when he was able to be on the field.

Asked if Polanco would be unable to get to 100 percent health this season, Mendoza said, “I don’t know if anyone is 100 percent in there. In this case, he’s gonna be feeling it. He’ll continue to get treatment and hope it goes away, but it’s probably something he’ll have to manage.”

Mets pitching prospect Jack Wenninger lasted just 2.1 innings in Sunday's game for Triple-A Syracuse, getting pulled after 61 pitches.

The right-hander allowed two earned runs, both coming in the third inning, on two hits and four walks.

Despite walking the bases loaded in the second inning, Wenninger kept the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders scoreless through two innings. However, things unraveled for the 24-year-old in the third after a leadoff single by George Lombard Jr. and Wenninger's fourth walk of the day.

With two on and nobody out, Marco Luciano doubled to drive in a run before Oswaldo Cabrera brought home another on a sacrifice fly. That would be it for Wenninger who only threw 28 strikes out of 61 pitches (46 percent). 

The brief outing matched Wenninger's season-low which came on April 23 where he only allowed two runs on one hit but walked five and hit a batter. He's now at 22 walks in 35.2 innings this season.

Wenninger left with the game tied after Syracuse scored twice in the first inning.

The San Diego Padres, second in the NL West with a 27-18 record, face the Seattle Mariners, who are second in the AL West with a 22-25 record. The scheduled starting pitchers are Lucas Giolito for San Diego, with a 3.41 ERA, and George Kirby for Seattle, with a 2.84 ERA.

How to watch San Diego Padres vs. Seattle Mariners

• Date: Sunday, May 17

• Time: 7:20 p.m. ET / 4:20 p.m. PT

• Where: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA

• TV Channels: NBC/Peacock

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• San Diego Padres: 27-18 (No. 2 in NL West)

• Seattle Mariners: 22-25 (No. 2 in AL West)

Odds

• Spread: Seattle Mariners -1.5

• Moneyline: Seattle Mariners -161 (59.2%) / San Diego Padres +135 (40.8%)

• Over/Under: 7.5

Starting pitchers

San Diego Padres: Lucas Giolito (10-4, ERA: 3.41, K: 121, WHIP: 1.29)
Seattle Mariners: George Kirby (5-2, ERA: 2.84, K: 46, WHIP: 1.16)

Weather: 64°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 47,929 | Roof: Retractable | Surface: Grass

On a national telecast through Peacock, the Tampa Bay Rays got a well deserved spotlight this Sunday, starting with the star of the show – Junior Caminero – clearing the fence:

After giving up the lead, the Rays would battle back the second time through the order, and after loading the bases, Taylor Walls – who I have always loved and have never said otherwise – stepped up with two outs and cleared the bases with a triple on a fastball down the middle.

Yandy Diaz padded the Rays lead in the fifth with a solo shot that could have had Caminero on base had he not been caught out by a hit and run the batter before, with the liner snagged by the second baseman and doubling him up with a quick throw to first.

It was a fun game for the Rays offense, but the interesting elements came when the Rays were on defense.

Drew Rasmussen worked to expose the weak Marlins offense by throwing almost exclusively fastballs, pitching to contact to get outs. It should have worked! If I had a nickel for every time the Rays outfielders played a liner on one hop instead of going for the out, I’d have three nickels, which feels weird!

CF Jakob Marsee was credited with a double in the second on what could have been called an error, when a liner to Jonny DeLuca in left field took a weird hop and went under his outstretched glove. He would be thrown out by Nick Fortes trying to steal third shortly thereafter.

RF Owen Cassie then had his bat sawed off by a cutter in the third, which conveniently rolled up the middle. He would come around and score when former Rays prospect 2B Xavier Edwards slapped a dink the opposite way when he finally got a change up. Edwards was moved to third on a fielder’s choice, then SS Otto Lopez stood in for a full count before getting his bat on a cutter in the zone. This dropped, somewhat inexplicably, in front of DeLuca as well who played the hop in front of him instead of trying to get his glove on the ball with two outs.

In the fourth, after a long at bat, 3B Leo Jimenez got on a similar way in the fourth, lining a full count tenth pitch fastball to left field, which one hopped into the glove of a deep Chandler Simpson.

The third time through the order, the at bats started to stretch out for Rasmussen, and the Marlins got two men on, but Kevin Cash got the groundball double play the Rays drew up by going to bullpen.

Garrett Cleavinger allowed a third run to score and then loaded the bases in the eighth with one out, so Kevin Cash turned to Ian Seymour. He picked up the second out on a phenomenal change up, and then coaxed a liner to Taylor Walls to escape further damage.

Rays closer Bryan Baker got the nod in the ninth and, despite a first pitch single to the No. 9 hitter, worked through 1-2-3 in the Marlins order with some nice fielding from Simpson and the middle infield.

Game Notes

• Peacock brought Rays color man Brian Anderson to the telecast, a smart decision allowing for an honest and thoughtful perspective from someone who knows the Rays well, something you don’t always get from a national broadcast crew.
• Kevin Cash, interviewed midgame, described Junior Caminero’s power as “unprecedented” and it’s hard to disagree. Since 2016, when EV90 started getting tracked, Caminero is the only right-handed hitting players to enter the top 20 at the age of 23 or younger (109.5 mph). Caminero ranks 13th overall on that list. The only other 23-or-younger player is James Wood, a left handed hitter (110.7 mph).
• Junior would lose his bat on a foul ball in the game.
• Taylor Walls career stats with bases loaded: 42 PA | .367/.476/.533
• The Rays loaded the bases again, chasing the Marlins starter but getting pushed to two outs. Jonathan Aranda stepped in and gave some eager swings on pitches outside the zone and then tapped out to the pitcher, slamming his helmet. An uncharacteristic moment!
• Peacock’s broadcast was thrilled the Rays concessions had both a Miami and Tampa Cuban sandwich available, with man among the people John Fanta correctly noting the addition of salami and crispy toasted bread made it vastly superior.