We were all a bit worried about the Rays after the 15-1 loss in Houston last week with the Rays best pitcher Charlie Morton on the mound.
That was followed up with the Rays blowing a 3-1 lead and eventually falling to the Astros 8-6 before winning the finale of the 3 game set 9-8.
The Rays limped back home trailing both Oakland and Cleveland in the wild card race.
The Rays responded by sweeping the Cleveland Indians this weekend at the Trop and continued their winning ways with a 5-4
10 inning win against the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon.
It was the pitching today that helped the Rays get the win as the Rays offense could only muster six hits.
Austin Meadows had two of the hits including a two run homer, and Tommy Pham had three hits including the game winner in the tenth inning.
Ryan Yarbrough who has stepped into a starting role and pitched very well since the Yonny Chirinos injury went six innings today giving up four runs while striking out four.
Oliver Drake, Diego Castillo, Emilio Pagan and Colin Poche closed it out for the Rays as the team recorded their 81st win of the season and with that win the Rays are back on top in the American League wild card race as they now have a half game lead on Cleveland.
The Rays pitching continues to be the strength of this team as they lead the American League with a 3.66 ERA and are second in baseball behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With September upon us the rosters have expanded and the Rays have added some players from that they hope will help propel them to a playoff berth.
Nate Lowe and Daniel Robertson are back with the Rays. Robertson began the season with the Rays then was sent down to Durham, recalled, then injured his knee and has been playing at Durham since.
Nate Lowe is happy to be back with the Rays. Disappointed with being sent down, Lowe was hitting right around .300 with six homers when he was sent to Durham and the Rays are hoping that hot bat will continue down the stretch.
Michael Perez was also called up to add catching depth behind Travis D’Arnaud and Mike Zuninio.
The Rays also added to the bullpen calling up relief pitchers Pete Fairbanks and Hoby Milner.
Brendan Mckay could rejoin the Rays sometime this month, and after a couple of rehab outings at Durham, Tyler Glasnow may see his first action with the Rays this upcoming weekend against Toronto.
This is the time of year when the Rays need to keep the pressure on. Every game matters. It does not matter if it’s against Cleveland, Baltimore, or Toronto.
The most important thing is winning games and positioning yourself for a long post season run. The Rays have 23 games left in the season and will need to win 14 of those 23 to get to the 95 wins it will probably take to secure the wildcard berth.
