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Rays Losing Their Strong Swim

The Tampa Bay Rays held a winning streak for their first 13 games, but during their fourteenth game, they lost 6-3 against the Blue Jays. 

The game started with difficulty with George Springer, Blue Jays outfielder, hitting a homerun in the bottom of the first. At this point, Toronto had a 64.9% winning probability, according to the MLB mobile app. The rest of the inning featured two Blue Jay hits, but no runs. The Rays closed the inning with a double play off of Brandon Belt’s, the Blue Jays’ designated hitter, ground ball to second base. 

The top of the second was uneventful for the Rays, but going into the bottom of the inning, Bo Bichette, Toronto’s shortstop, hit an RBI, which brought Kevin Kiermaier, Blue Jays’ center field, home. The score was now 2-0. Drew Rasmussen, Tampa Bay Rays’ pitcher, got his first strikeout of the inning against Vladimir Guerreo Jr., Toronto’s first baseman. 

The third inning brought nothing to either teams, but the Rays saw their first point in the fourth. Luke Raley, Tampa Bay’s right fielder, singled to send Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay’s second baseman, home. The score stood at 2-1. 

No other runs were seen under the bottom of the fifth, but when the Rays changed pitchers, an offensive spark lit as well. Rasmussen was replaced by bullpen pitcher Colin Poche, who walked the first two up to bat and sent two runners home. Danny Jansen, Blue Jays’ catcher, reached on a fielder’s choice and sent Alejrandro Kirk, also a Toronto’s catcher, home, which resulted in another pitching change, sending Yonny Chirinose on the mound.

As the game approached the end, Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios had to leave the game due to an injured knee. Pitcher Trevor Richards approached the mound, but was replaced by pitcher Zach Pop shortly after. 

For Toronto, offensive and defensive started to weaken; however, in the sixth inning, they held a 98% winning probability. 

The top of seventh featured two Tampa Bay Ray runs. Josh Lowe, Rays right fielder,  and Christian Bethancourt, Rays catcher, both hit home runs straight to center field. 

The game ended with a three up-three down inning, leaving Toronto victorious against Tampa Bay and taking their winning streak away. The next game in this three game series was also a win for Toronto, but they couldn’t hold up for the third.

The Rays were not done setting records yet though. Not until two weeks later did the Rays finally lose their home game winning streak against the Houston Astros in a complete blow out of 5-0. The Astros ran the field all five times in the fifth inning.

The Tampa Bay Rays were never seen as a competitor, but this season proved that wrong. Starting the season with a 13 game winning streak and a 14 home game winning streak, the Rays are a force to be reckoned with. 

Currently, the Rays hold a 31-11 record and are seated first in the American League East.

Hannah Mudry

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