The Rays were hoping to come away from their three-game series against the Rangers with a split-series win on Thursday afternoon after dropping one game to the Texas club on Tuesday night. To get the job done they had Shane McClanahan on the mound. The Rangers, meanwhile, were going the Opener route with a one-inning starter and then Marco Gonzalez lined up to take the bulk role.
Ezequiel Duran got a one-out walk in the first, but two outs followed to get the Rays out of the jam. In the home half, Yandy Diaz got a leadoff walk. Jonathan Aranda then grounded into a double play to eliminate the baserunner. It very briefly looked as if Junior Caminero hit a home run, but the call was challenged when it was called a flyout and the call on the field was upheld as an out.
The Rangers went 1-2-3 in the top of the second. Marco Gonzales came in to replace the Opener Cole Winn, and he got the Rays out in order.
McClanahan continues to cruise in the third, getting the Rangers three-up, three-down. In the home half with two outs, Hunter Feduccia doubled. Diaz then singled to bring Feduccia home and put the Rays on the board first.
Aranda singled and Caminero was intentionally walked, but no additional runs scored.
Duran was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then Brandon Nimmo walked. Shane McClanahan was then pulled from the game, though his injury if there was one was unclear. He appeared to have some neck discomfort and it seems like the team might have been aware because Casey Legumina was already warming and came in to replace him. With one out, a pinch-hitting Joc Pederson singled to score Duran and tie up the game. Pederson was then immediately swapped for a pinch-runner in Josh Smith, and with two outs, Legumina was swapped for Cam Booser. RIP if you’re keeping score the old-fashioned way. Booser got the final out of the inning. Victor Mesa Jr. got a one-out single in the home half, then Ben Williams singled. Taylor Walls walked to load the bases. Unfortunately Feduccia grounded into a double-play to end the inning.
With one out in the fifth, Alejandro Osuna singled. We got an update on McClanahan: mid-back tightness. So we’ll see how that pans out. Craig Kimbrel replaced Booser and then gave up an RBI double to Wyatt Lanford. With two outs, Nimmo walked and then stole second, but the Rays were able to get out of the inning with only the one extra run scoring. Peyton Gray replaced Gonzalez in the bottom of the inning and got the Rays out in order.
Steven Matz was the new Rays’ pitcher in the sixth and he mowed through the Rangers in order. In the bottom of the inning the Rays got their mojo back a little as Jonny DeLuca hit a solo home run with one out. Two outs followed but the Rays had come even.
With one out in the seventh, Osuna walked. He stole second after two outs, and the Rangers were not able to bring him home. Robby Ahlstrom was the new Rangers pitcher in the bottom of the inning and got the side out in order.
Garrett Cleavinger came in for the Rays in the eighth. After two outs, Josh Smith walked but Cleavinger got the final out to end the threat. With one out, Ben Peoples came in from the Rangers’ pen. After two outs, Cedric Mullins hit a solo homer to put the Rays in the lead.
DeLuca singled, then stole second, but the Rays were limited to just the one run for the inning. Thankfully it was a big one.
Bryan Baker came in for the top of the ninth and gave up a leadoff walk to Nicky Lopez. Langford got a two-out walk, but despite the nail-biter ending the Rays did pull off the third out to win the game and the series.
