Rivalry Roundup: Rays win again, Rangers grab first place
07/05/2024 16:00
Tampa Bay won a fourth straight, while Corey Seager provided late drama in Oakland.
The Yankees enjoyed a much-deserved off day on Monday, after sweeping the Tigers in a three-game set at the Stadium. But, action around the league didn't stop with them, as the American League West saw some shifting, and the Rays gained some ground in the East.
Tampa Bay Rays (18-18) 8, Chicago White Sox (8-27) 2
Despite a semi-shocking sweep of the Rays a week and a half ago, the White Sox are still, by all accounts, the White Sox. The Rays welcomed them to Tropicana Field to open a series Monday evening, and they got some revenge following the inexcusable trio of losses in the Southside of Chicago.
The Rays embodied "look good, feel good, play good" on Monday, as they sported their sharp new City Connect jerseys for a second straight night. Tampa Bay hit the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second, and never looked back. Jonny DeLuca opened things up for the Rays with a two-run single to start his excellent night, before Yandy Díaz rolled into an RBI groundout.
For the Sox, they scored two (and their only runs) in the next inning, when Tommy Pham, who's been a nice mid-year addition for them, swatted a two-run bomb the other way for some revenge against his old squad. The Rays added four more runs in the fifth and sixth, thanks in part to a two-run homer off the bat of DeLuca. After it was all said and done, the Rays took it home by a score of 8-2, their fourth straight win, and one they controlled from the very beginning.
Texas Rangers (20-16) 4, Oakland Athletics (17-19) 2,
One of the bigger surprises on this young season has been the standings in the American League West. The Athletics came into Monday's divisional showdown just two games out of first, but the Rangers would build upon their slim lead, as Seattle lost as well.
The two lefties that started this game kept things quiet for much of the night in Oakland. For Texas, Andrew Heaney allowed two runs (one earned) over six innings, and struck out five. For the A's, Alex Wood outdid him, tossing six scoreless innings, allowing only a pair of hits to the potent Ranger lineup.
Oakland scored their two runs on a pair of sac flies before the Rangers turned on the jets, flipping the script on this game in an instant in the eighth. With two outs and a pair of runners on base, the ever-dangerous Corey Seager blasted a middle-middle fastball over the center field wall. The star's third homer of the year gave the Rangers a sudden 3-2 lead after being shut out to that point. They tacked on another run in the ninth, and Kirby Yates closed things out for the dramatic win. The Rangers grabbed sole possession of first place in the West with Monday's victory.
Other Games
Cleveland Guardians (23-12) 2, Detroit Tigers (18-17) 1: For the Tigers, Jack Flaherty followed his 14 K gem with another solid effort against the Guardians, but the Detroit offense was mostly M.I.A. in support. Both teams scored in the first inning, with the Tigers' run coming on a solo shot from the surging Riley Greene, but the deciding blow was a José Ramírez solo blast off of the right field pole in the sixth inning.
Minnesota Twins (20-14) 3, Seattle Mariners (19-16) 1: In surprising fashion, Simeon Woods Richardson got the better of his pitching matchup with Luis Castillo. This one stayed scoreless until Carlos Correa knocked in a run via double in the fifth. Christian Vázquez and Manuel Margot each tallied RBI as well, while Woods Richardson tossed six innings, allowing just one hit and striking out eight.
