Santa Maria!
The Rays defeated the Angels Tuesday night 7-6 in Tropicana Field to advance to 10-8 on the season.
The thrilling contest went 13 innings, with an infield single from Amed Rosario walking it off and sealing the victory for Tampa Bay.
Aaron Civale was the starter for the Rays in this game, going up against Angels starter Jose Soriano.
The game was largely a pitchers duel to start, with no scoring coming until a Mickey Moniak two-run home run in the top of the fourth made it 2-0. Logan O’Hoppe followed that up in the next at-bat with a home run of his own and suddenly the Rays find themselves down 3-0.
The rest of the game looked bleak offensively for the Rays, as they entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-1 and having recorded just one hit in the ballgame. Back-to-back fly outs to start the bottom of the ninth and things certainly looked bleak for the Rays.
However, back-to-back singles by Harold Ramirez and Rosario and suddenly the Rays have the slightest sign of life.
Up brought Jose Caballero, who saved the day and lined a two-run triple down the right field line, tying the game 3-3.
The Angels wouldn’t go away that easily though, responding the following frame with a run off a wild pitch to take a 4-3 lead.
The Rays would respond right back in the bottom of the 10th though, as Jose Siri would score on a throwing error by pitcher Jose Cisnero to tie the game once again.
We the move to the top of the 11th, where the Angels have the bases loaded and just one out. A fly ball by Taylor Ward spells trouble for the Rays as it sails towards the wall in deep Center field, however Siri makes an incredible catch at the wall to minimize the scoring to just one run, making it 5-4.
The Rays would keep scratching and clawing their way back into the game, with a double play in the bottom of the 11th scoring Richie Palacios and nodding the game back up at 5-5.
Two innings later, the Angels once again find themselves scoring the go-ahead run, this time with a single by Zach Neto scoring Luis Rengifo to make it 6-5.
This brings us to the bottom of the 13th inning. Back to back strikeouts have the Rays in bad shape once again as they’re down to their final out in what could be a late night heartbreaker.
However, a huge double by Palacios scores Rene Pinto and ties the game up once again. Are you kidding me?
Back-to-back walks then proceeds to load the bases in the bottom of the 13th, and Rosario uses his blazing speed to beat out a groundball and win the game for the Rays in thrilling 7-6 fasion.
Garrett Cleavinger is credit with the win, pitching the 13th and final inning of the game.
The win marks the 10th of the young season for the Rays, as they now sit third in the AL East standings, behind the Orioles and Yankees.
The Rays will follow this game up with another game against the Angels on Wednesday, first pitch is set for 6:50 PM.