Rays fall to 12-11 after three game series in Yankee Stadium
“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 seventh series of the season, where the Tampa Bay Rays took on the New York Yankees from April 19th through April 21st, a three game series in Yankee Stadium.
The Rays head up to the Bronx to take on AL East rival New York Yankees for the first time in 2024.
Game 1: Rays – 3 Yankees – 5 (recap)
Game 2: Rays – 2 Yankees – 0 (recap)
Game 3: Rays – 4 Yankees – 5 (recap)
Offensive Sunburst Award: Richie Palacios
Palacios shined at the plate and on the basepaths in this homecoming series, shining in all three games with hundreds of his family in attendance.
In game one, Palacios recorded two hits, two runs, and an RBI. This included his second home run of the season to give the Rays a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning.
In game two, Palacios scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.
The outfielder then rounded out the series with a hit, walk, and run scored in game three of the series.
This is Palacios’ first Sunburst win since opening weekend, and his first in the offensive category.
Pitching Sunburst Award: Zack Eflin
Eflin wins his second consecutive Pitching Sunburst Award with a premier debut in Yankee stadium, going six scoreless innings allowing just three hits no walks while striking out six.
The Rays needed every bit of Eflin’s elite start too, as the game went scoreless through nine innings before the Rays broke through and took it 2-0 in the 10th.
The right hander has brought his WHIP down to 1.06 now on the year, as he’s starting to get into a groove in late April.
Defensive Sunburst Award: Jose Caballero
Caballero continued his dominance in the field this weekend at Yankee Stadium, with highlight play after highlight play.
Caballero has had an incredible month defensively, with his being his second Defensive Sunburst of the season so far, matching Jose Siri as the only Ray to accomplish that feat.
Highlight Sunburst Award: Jose Caballero
There wasn’t much to be excited about offensively in Saturday’s game, with no runs being scored through the first nine innings, but Caballero’s go-ahead double to finally break the scoreless tie earns him this edition’s Highlight Sunburst Award.
The 27-year-olds clutch extra inning RBI rounded out his fantastic weekend with his second Sunburst of the series and fifth of the season.
Conclusion
After losing the series two games to one versus the Yankees, the Rays drop to last place in a competitive AL East, however they are still just three and a half games back from first place in the division on the young season.
The Rays follow up their trip to New York with a three game series at home against the Detroit Tigers, a three game series from Monday to Wednesday. First pitch on Monday is set for 6:50 PM, Where the Rays look to bounce back from their first series loss since April third.