Good pitching battle between two ex Rays’ prospects
Today’s game marks the middle point of this 9 game road trip. Yesterday’s game ended in heartbreaking fashion; with Carlos Santa hitting a walk-off single to right center. Today, Taj Bradley will face Joe Ryan for the second game in Minneapolis. Both of today’s starting pitchers were drafted within a couple of hours; they were both drafted by the same team (Tampa Bay Rays) in the same year (2018). The Rays will try to bounce back and finally put together a strong defensive and offensive showing.
The game started with Yandy Diaz extending his hitting streak to 12 with an infield single, then Paredes hit a bloop single to left field. But, from there nothing else for the offense. A flair double for Trevor Larnach and a single from Roys Lewis put an immediate threat on the top of 1st. Bradley got out of the jam by striking out Max Kepler and forcing a grounder to short.
With two outs on the third, Issac Paredes hit a line drive to left field (did anyone have any doubts) and the Rays take the lead 1-0. It was a pretty good pitch from Joe Ryan; it was a splitter down and in, however, Paredes was on time. This was Paredes’ first homer in the month of June.
Isaac Paredes with a line drive #RaysUp #MLB pic.twitter.com/eFyRldmuT9
— Top Bunk Sports (@Topbunksports) June 20, 2024
Slowly both pitchers are settling in, Bradley has had a few command issues, but with every pitch, he looks stronger. When Taj Bardley cannot command the splitter on the bottom part of the zone, he generally gets in trouble. The pitch itself is extremely effective, and if you add the element of location the splitter could be untouchable. On the other, Ryan’s fastball on the top of the zone is getting numerous swings and misses.
Back to Back singles put an immediate threat on Bradley. This time he couldn’t escape intact, however, he managed to get a double play to get out of trouble. Twins tie it, 1-1.
Randy led off the 4th with a double off the glove of the leaping right fielder. However, nothing else for the Rays in the 4th as Ben Rortvedt grounds to second for a double play
With two outs and two strikes in the fifth inning, Royce Lewis destroyed a splitter that was left all over the plate. It appeared that Bradley was going to get out with a superb line, but Lewis had other things in mind.
Ben Rortvedt reached based after a slow blooper to left field. Then he was lifted for Caballero, so he could pinch run. immediately Caballero created chaos by stealing second. However the throw went to to CF, and he was able to reach third. two batters later Yandy Diaz will tie the game up with a slow roller to third base. Jose Siri pinched hit for Josh Lowe with bases loaded and two outs, and he grounded out to third base after reaching a potential ball four.
In the top of the 8th inning, the Rays filled up the bases with two outs. Golden opportunity for the Rays to put the go-ahead run late in the ball game. With Yandy Diaz up to bat, he cannot get the job done and the Rays are retired.
Nothing for both teams in the 9th, and we are going to extras in Minneapolis.
Rays had a men in first with two outs, and it seemed that the Rays were heading to the bottom of the 10th with no runs. However, an error by Royce Lewis was all Randy needed to round the bases. Rays lead 3-2.
Phil Maton came to close out the 10th, and surprisingly he did. He shut down the door recording three consecutive outs. Phil Maton recorded his second save of the season, and he finally gets a much needed break.
The Rays will face the Twins again tomorrow at 12:10 ET for the series finale.
