I think it’s safe to say most Rays fans took one look at the Detroit Tigers current record for the season and their brutal slump since losing their ace Tarik Skubal, and thought this was going to be an easy series. However, recent history has proven that series that should be easy wins have been difficult for the Rays to get a handle on, and that has proven to be the case so far for this one as well. While the Rays came close to an incredible comeback in Monday’s game, they were still bested 10-9 by the Tigers, who went home run happy. But the Tigers also had to go deep into their inconsistent bullpen in Monday’s game, something that might come back to bite them as the series progressed. For Tuesday’s game it would be a battle of two pitchers who have serious issues with command: Steven Matz for the Rays and Jack Flaherty for the Tigers. The big question for this game would be which starter would drop the ball first.
In terms of which pitcher would flinch first, Matz had the answer almost immediately, as he gave up a leadoff home run to the newly returned Gleyber Torres. That was followed by a triple to Matt Vierling, and then a sac fly to Dillon Dingler to bring Vierling home. Matz got the next two outs to end the inning, but the Rays were once again starting in a deficit right out of the gate. They didn’t do much to help themselves in the home half, as they went 1-2-3 against Flaherty.
The Tigers continued to get the best of Matz in the second, with a leadoff double to Spencer Torkelson, followed by a home run by Wenceel Perez, who truly has Matz’s number, going 3-for-3 now against him. With one out, Zack Short doubled, then with two outs, Matt Vierling doubled to bring the runner home. Kevin Cash clearly had Matz on a short leash, because he was done after that, being replaced by Casey Legumina to get the final out of the inning.
With two outs in the top of the third, Spencer Torkelson singled, but the Tigers weren’t able to convert the runner. In the home half, Hunter Feduccia got a leadoff walk, followed by a single from Ben Williamson. Three outs followed, though, and the Rays were left scoreless.
Cam Booser was the new pitcher in the fourth, making his debut with the Rays. Short got a one-out single, but was eliminated in a force out off the bat of Torres. A final out ended the inning with the Tigers once again unable to convert their baserunner. Palacios got a one-out single in the home half, and Ryan Vilade doubled, but it wasn’t enough to score the runner. Two outs followed, though Feduccia attempted to challenge the call via ABS, the strike call was confirmed though, to end the inning.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 for the first time in the game in the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, Junior Caminero got a two-out single, but was left stranded.
In the sixth, Booser was swapped for Ian Seymour. Spencer Torkelson took a leadoff walk, followed by a Wenceel Perez single. Zach McKinstry then walked to load the bases. A sac fly by Short brought one run in, then the Rays intentionally walked Gleyber Torres. This time a sac fly from Vierling brought in a run and when it was all said and done, the Tigers were up 7-0. In the bottom of the inning, Yandy Diaz got a leadoff walk and that was the end of the day for Flaherty. Enmanuel De Jesus replaced him and induced a double play, then collected the final out of the inning in short order.
The Tigers extended their lead in the seventh with a leadoff home run from Riley Greene to make the score 8-0. They had to settle for just one baserunner in the inning, but he made a big impact. It was also the slowest and shortest home run of the entire season at Tropicana. The Rays, unfortunately, went 1-2-3 in the home half.
Bryan Baker was the new Rays pitcher for the eighth and he held the Tigers in check, taking them three-up, three-down. The Rays likewise went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.
In a bit of a white flag move from the Rays, Ben Williamson was on to pitch in the ninth. The gambit paid off early as Williamson turned out to be a groundball-inducing wizard, keeping Caminero busy. Riley Greene worked a walk, but a line drive right at Caminero then ended the inning. The Rays went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, and the Tigers came away with a shutout win.
