The Tampa Bay Rays started 4-0 for the first time in franchise history thanks to a win in the District of Columbia Monday. They remained the lone unbeaten team in Major League Baseball Tuesday after rallying from down a run in the ninth inning thanks to three home runs, overtaking the Nationals 10-6.
Trailing 6-5, and with the Nationals bringing in their closer Kyle Finnegan, it took just one pitch to get back even, as Luke Raley took Finnegan’s first offering and deposited in the seats in left for his third home run in the last two games.
LUUUUUUUUUUUUKE! #RAYSUP pic.twitter.com/3SGXS2cDX8
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) April 5, 2023
Josh Lowe gave the Rays the lead back by following with a solo homer of his own, reaching the second deck in right-center.
BACK-TO-BACK JACKS TO TAKE THE LEAD! #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/FvUOn1TEJC
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) April 5, 2023
Pinch-hitter Isaac Paredes drew a walk off Finnegan, but pinch-runner Manuel Margot after stealing second base would be picked off te bag for the first out of the inning. Taylor Walls followed with a base hit, and Jose Siri‘s double put a pair of runners on for Yandy Diaz, who lined a Finnegan pitch into the visiting bullpen for his second home run of the season and a four-run lead.
What’d you like more, Yandy’s blast, or the bullpen catch? pic.twitter.com/yC1j3dwvDb
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) April 5, 2023
Tampa Bay initially got out to a 3-0 lead in the first off Nationals starter Chad Kuhl, with Diaz and Brandon Lowe starting with singles preceding a RBI double by Randy Arozarena, a run-scoring groundout by Wander Franco and a sacrifice fly by Raley.
But Josh Fleming had issues keeping Washington off the basepaths all evening. He allowed two runs in the first, and after Siri’s solo homer in the second gave Tampa Bay a little more breathing room, a two-run double by Lane Thomas tied the game in the bottom of the inning.
Thomas gave Washington the lead with an RBI double that ended Fleming’s night in the fourth, and Luis Garcia added a run-scoring double in the seventh off Kevin Kelly that gave the Nationals a 6-4 advantage.
Arozarena’s second double of the evening in the eighth brought in Diaz to cut the deficit back to 6-5.
Ryan Thompson (1-0) earned the win after pitching a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning.
The Rays can get to 6-0 for the first time in franchise history and finish off a sweep in Washington, with Shane McClanahan (1-0, 0.00 ERA) getting the start against Patrick Corbin (0-1, 6.00 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05.
Notes
- Tampa Bay has 11 home runs through the first five games of the regular season. The Rays did not hit their 11th home run of 2022 until April 22, their 14th game of the year.
Highlights
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
