Rays: 2, Tigers: 4 - Pepiot strong again, bullpen and offense - not so much

This is getting tough to watch

Today is the day, right? The day Yandy and Randy and the rest of the Rays offense breaks out of its horrid slump?

Rays had their first runner in scoring position in the bottom of the 1st inning after Yandy Diaz walked, and Richie Palacios got on due to catchers interference, but Randy Arozarena GIDP to end the threat and the inning.

Detroit would strike first with a Riley Green HR in the top of the 3rd inning.

Rays had another threat in the bottom of the 3rd inning, with Jose Caballero getting to 3rd base with only one out, but a strikeout and flyout end the inning.

In the 5th inning, Ben Rortvedt opened the inning with a single, and Yandy made it aboard to put two runners on with 2 out, but a fly out ends the inning.

Rays got a break in the top of the 6th, when Ben Rortvedt caught Tigers’ Wencell Perez stealing after review.

In the bottom of the 6th Randy Arozarena finally gets a single!!!

If it works, it works!

And it would pay off too, as Isaac Parades put on another pulled HR to give the Rays a 2-1 lead.

Ryan Pepiots day would be done as cash would rely on the bullpen to save this game. Pepiot’s final line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 4 Ks on 80 pitches, which seemed low to be pulling him.

Cash’s plan was to go to Phil Maton first, which besides a HBP to leadoff batter Zach McKinstry, was able to get out of the inning.

7th Inning done, two more to go.

Colin Poche would be the next man up, and allowed leadoff hitter Carson Kelly a single, and then the very next pitch, Riley Greene smashed a HR to give the lead back to the Tigers

3-2 Tigers and we aren’t done here. After one out, Poche gives up ANOTHER HR, this time off of the slider to Mark Canha.

Tigers lead 4-2 with only two innings left for the Rays to build some sort of comeback.

Which didn’t happen, only Isaac was able to get on base, but Jose Siri strikes out and Randy and Harold ground out in the bottom of the 8th, and Tigers’ closer Jason Foley makes quick work of Ben Rortvedt, Austin Shenton, and Jose Caballero to seal the series win for the Detroit Tigers.

Yandy Diaz was the only one to get a walk the whole game, with the Rays going 0-7 w/RISP

Rays will try to not get swept tomorrow. They’ll have Tyler Alexander on the mound against Tigers’ Jack Flaherty. Gametime is at 6:50 PM