2024 Sunburst Awards: Boston Red Sox games 49-51
Rays fall to 25-26 after three game series at Tropicana Field
“Sunburst Awards” is a series-by-series evaluation of player performance, where four different awards are given out after each series: Offensive player of the series, defensive player of the series, pitcher of the series, and highlight play of the series. This edition will be covering the 16th series of the season, where the Tampa Bay Rays took on the Boston Red Sox from May 20 through May 22, a three game series at Tropicana Field.
Rays face off against the Red Sox for the second time in three series facing off for a three game home series.
Game 1: Rays - 0 Red Sox - 5 (recap)
Game 2: Rays - 2 Red Sox - 5 (recap)
Game 3: Rays - 4 Red Sox - 8 (recap)
Offensive Sunburst Award: Isaac Paredes
In what was generally a poor offensive series for the Rays, Paredes had himself a pretty good outing, with three hits, two RBI, two runs and a walk.
Paredes had his fingerprints all over the Rays runs in this series, being a part of every scoring run, and being the one sign of a life in a hard to watch offense.
Pitching Sunburst Award: Taj Bradley
Yes he gave up five runs, yes he gave up two home runs, and yes he fell apart the second time through the order. I’m aware.
But in a series that really didn’t do much to excite fans at all, Bradley’s first three innings at least left fans excited for the future with the young pitcher. And in a series that showed some pretty poor pitching performances, Bradley at least had the longest stint of great pitching.
Defensive Sunburst Award: Brandon Lowe
Lowe may have been involved in a frustrating double steal in game two of the series, but he also made a variety of impressive plays throughout the series.
This is Lowe’s second Sunburst of the year, with his first coming on the opening series of the season.
Highlight Sunburst Award: Taj Bradley
This was a series that really didn’t see anything exciting or ‘highlight’ worthy, but Bradley’s gonna take this one for his electric first time through the order.
Things may have gone downhill shortly after, but let’s all reminisce in the bliss we lived in when Bradley went three perfect innings striking out eight batters, feeling like we were watching the next Chris Archer or Blake Snell.
Conclusion
Wow, that sucked.
Thankfully the Rays have an off day to regather themselves and get ready for a tough series against the Kansas City Royals at home. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:50.