Rays: 10, Pirates: 3 - A Stellar Siri & Lowe Shine in Series Start
Felt like a classic Rays’ win!
After a series win in Minnesota, the Rays look to start another series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at beautiful PNC Park, and wearing the objectively best City Connect jerseys!
Full grit in Pitt: ✅
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 21, 2024
City Connect series starts tonight! pic.twitter.com/D1sAZfCO2N
Kicking off City Connect Weekend
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 21, 2024
@SNPittsburgh
@937theFan | The PRN#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/IG3Hnn2Uvm
Rays took an early lead in the top of the 2nd inning, thanks to a sac fly from Taylor Walls, scoring Jose Siri
Siri also flashing the leather early in the bottom of the 2nd inning, taking a extra base hit away from Nick Gonzalez.
THIS MAN IS EVERYWHERE pic.twitter.com/fxdasBYqpq
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 21, 2024
The ball left the bat at 104 MPH.
Josh Lowe got his first HR of the game in the next inning:
Rays lead 2-0 after 3 innings.
Rays added more runs in the 4th inning with back to back singles by Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe.
The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t make things easy for Rays’ starter Ryan Pepiot, as he could only get one out in the 4th inning, giving up two runs, and loading the bases for Colin Poche and a taxed Rays bullpen.
Pepiot’s final line: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, and 3 Ks on 74 pitches.
Thankfully, it only took 1 pitch for Colin Poche to get out of the inning.
In the top of the 6th Josh Lowe belted his 2nd HR of the game, a 3 run shot to give the Rays a 7-2 lead
Josh Lowe multi-HR day? Jose Siri defensive highlights? Colin Poche AND Phil Maton shutdown?
Rays are SO BACK!
Poche went 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB and 1 K on 11 pitches, and Maton went 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, and 1 K on 20 pitches.
Cash went to Chris Devenski for the 8th inning, who gave up a lead off HR to Bryan Reynolds.
Rays still lead 7-3, and Devenski was able to get out of the 8th inning with no more damage.
But the Rays still had some runs left in the tank, with Ben Rortvedt cranking a 3 run HR, his 2nd of the year, to give the Rays double digit runs.
Cash called on Pete Fairbanks to close out the game, and the Rays ended it the same way they started it.
With a Jose Siri defensive highlight.
This dynamic duo delivered a dub.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 22, 2024
Rays will look for a series win tomorrow, unfortunately not wearing the city connects (heat + black unis = even more injured Rays). It will be a tough task, as the Rays will have to face off against the young pair of Pirate aces over the next two games; the first being against Jared Jones. Jones will face off against Zach Eflin. Gametime is at 4:05 PM.