A tumultuous third inning powers Tampa Bay over Kansas City
The 2025 iteration of the Rays might have the most dynamic offense in team history.
In the top of the second, they put up three runs and only one batted ball reached the outfield.
Christopher Morel singled to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Josh Lowe singled to right field, Jose Caballero recorded a bunt single to score Morel.
Chandler Simpson also singled to Witt, and Josh Lowe scored on a wild pitch from former Ray Michael Wacha. And, alas, Danny Jansen laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Simpson. 3-0 flappy boys in the matter of 11 minutes.
In the bottom of the second, Junior Caminero made this sweet snag to end the inning.
That proved to be all the Tampa Bay pitching staff needed, as Drew Rasmussen only needed 62 pitches to get through five innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, Simpson made this leaping catch at the wall.
Chandler Simpson flashing the leather❗️ pic.twitter.com/5gF41nwI1b
— Jake (@TBRaysCentral) June 26, 2025
Kevin Kelly, Garrett Cleavinger, and Edwin Uceta all earned holds on the night, and Pete Fairbanks came in for the save.
Not only did the Rays shut out the Royals and home them to a mere three hits, this is also the tenth straight game Tampa Bay has played in that was decided by three runs or more.
The Rays look to complete the sweep tomorrow, as Shane Baz toes the rubber opposite Michael Lorenzen for Kansas City.