Keeping the momentum going: Rays 8, Tigers 3

A strong first inning set the tone for yet another Rays victory.

The Rays are hosting the Detroit Tigers in the second game of this weekend’s three-game matchup, looking to secure the series victory after last night’s offensive-driven win.

Ryan Pepiot takes the mound for the Rays, wearing sweet Devil Rays-themed New Balances. He worked a scoreless first, striking out Wenceel Perez to end the inning.

Brent Hurter took the mound for the Tigers, and couldn’t escape the first inning after a dropped third strike led to a barrage of hits for the Rays. Brandon Lowe was able to reach first after catcher Jake Rogers failed to catch the pitch, and Jonathan Aranda hit a two-out double to put two runners on for Christopher Morel.

Morel drew a walk, loading the bases for Josh Lowe, but it was the Tigers’ starter that allowed the game’s first run to score, walking J. Lowe to score B. Lowe. The implosion continued after that, with Hurter hitting Jose Caballero and allowing another run to cross the plate. Taylor Walls stepped into the box with loaded bases, and singled up the middle score both Morel and Lowe, doubling the lead and making it 4-0 Rays.

Hurter’s day was done after not being able to make it out of the first, and Sawyer Gipson-Long took the mound to finally get that third out for Detroit.

In the second, lead was extended to 5-0 after Yandy Diaz hit a leadoff double and Brandon Lowe scored him with a single to right.

On the pitching side of things, the Rays held the Tigers scoreless through the first three frames, but allowed the first run against in the top of the fourth. Pepiot hit leadoff batter Javier Baez with a pitch, and he moved up to third after a single by Parker Meadows. A groundout to short allowed Baez to score, chipping into the Rays’ lead to make it 5-1.

Danny Jansen saw the opposing catcher put up an RBI, and decided to grab one for himself, launching a solo home run to left and taking back the run that was just given up.

Three batters later, Junior Caminero added to the total, making it 6-1 Rays with a 110 mph solo shot of his own. Pepiot worked a clean top of the fifth, and that marked his final inning on the day. He threw 96 pitches, allowing only one run on three hits, while striking out seven.

Paul Gervase, who was called up this morning from Triple-A Durham, entered the game in the top of the sixth, making his Major League debut. He threw a perfect seven-pitch inning to retire the side in order.

He stayed in the game for the seventh inning, and although he walked a couple of batters, he didn’t let anyone cross the plate, working a second scoreless inning with his first big league strikeout at the beginning of it.

Christopher Morel joined in on the fun, launching a loud 113 mph home run down the left field line to extend the lead to 8-1.

Mason Montgomery was brought in to relieve Gervase in the top of the eighth. With one out in the inning, Brandon Lowe was unable to field a grounder with a runner on first, allowing Javy Baez to reach and put two on for pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones. Jones doubled, plating Wenceel Perez and cutting into the lead, making it 8-2.

Kevin Kelly was brought in to replace Montgomery, but allowed an additional run to score on a sacrifice fly by Dillon Dingler. Neither run went against Montgomery following the error. A strikeout of Trey Sweeney ended the inning before any real damage was done.

Kelly stayed in for the ninth, and after allowing a leadoff single, got a clutch double play and final strikeout to end this one for the Rays.

A series win to keep the hot streak going, the Rays capitalized on another early start and didn’t look back. They’ll look to sweep the Tigers tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 12:10 pm. Zach Littell takes the mound for the good guys against Detroit starter Casey Mize.