ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – At least the Rays managed to take two of three from the mediocre Cubs after being swept by the Orioles.
A great start from Taj Bradley appeared as though it would be wasted Thursday night. The Rays trailed 2-0 after six innings before rallying for three in the seventh in a 3-2 win. Yandy Diaz drove in the decisive run, and Bradley (2-4) picked up his first victory at home after throwing a career-high 104 pitches and matching his career-best in strikeouts with 11.
While a 2-5 homestand was not what the Rays (33-36) wanted, or needed, they least at took the series from the Cubs before embarking on a three-city, nine-game trip that opens in Atlanta on Friday evening. The homestand concluded in highlight-reel fashion when Taylor Walls dove to glove a sharp grounder off the bat of Nico Hoerner and turned it into a game-ending double play.
Read: Tampa Bay Rays Have To “Get Over” Being Swept By Orioles
“A little bit of momentum created to go on the road,” said manager Kevin Cash. “The guys were pumped today. That was a big win for us to come from behind, and the way it ended with Walls and, obviously, highlighted with Taj.”
The Rays hit the road having scored five or fewer runs in 22 of their last 24 games and have been out-homered this season 91-53. Alas, they will take wins anyway they can and have no choice but to start turning things around on the road.
The Braves have been scuffling without the injured Ronald Acuna. Jr., but still have a strong lineup. The series will be the Rays’ fourth visit to Truist Park, which opened in 2017. They split two games in 2018, lost a pair in an empty park during the pandemic in 2020 and took two of three in 2021. The Rays are 16-26 all-time against Atlanta.
“Very talented lineup,” said Cash. “Excited to go there. The last time we were there it was a good atmosphere. A fun place to play and no doubt a very talented team.”
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Following a day off Monday, the Rays resume their trip Tuesday evening with the first of three against Minnesota. The trip concludes with three games in Pittsburgh where it looks as though the Rays will face Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes, who is 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA in his first six career starts.
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