Game 85: Rays 9 Marlins 6 (16 innings) -Postgame News and Notes
The Rays offense got off to a hot start with four runs in the first two innings, gave that lead up, and then played the longest road game in franchise history. Tampa Bay scored five in the 16th, and then held on for a 9–6 win over the Marlins in Miami. The Rays (43–42) have split the first two games of the series.
The 16th started with a Johnny Field single to center off Brett Graves, who was pitching his fourth inning. Carlos Gomez was hit by a pitch. Kevin Kiermaier hit a bullet toward short that J.T. Riddle caught on a short-hop, and turned it into an odd 6–4–5 double play. With two out, Kevin Kiermaier stole second and Matt Duffy walked. Jake Bauers then doubled into the right field corner, scoring a pair for a 6–4 advantage. Wilson Ramos was walked intentionally for pitcher Vidal Nuno, who had pitched two scoreless innings. Nuno lined a single to right, scoring Bauers to make it 7–4. However, Nuno grabbed at his hamstring as he reached first, and was lifted for pinch-runner and fellow pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. Daniel Robertson then doubled to right-center, scoring both runners to cap the five-run rally.
To that point, Tampa Bay had used seven pitchers, and tried to finish the game with backup catcher Jesus Sucre pitching. However, Sucre allowed three straight singles and a sac fly to Bryan Holaday, making it a 9–5 game. Jose Alvarado entered with runners at the corners and one out, and got J.T. Realmuto to ground into a 5–4 fielder’s choice that originally was ruled a game-ending double play. With the game at 9–6, pitcher Dan Straily walked on a 3–2 pitch. Cameron Maybin was the tying run, and xxx.
Tampa Bay had numerous opportunities prior to the 16th to take the lead. ,The best chance came in the 13th, Robertson was hit by a pitch, and went to third on an Adeiny Hechavarria single. Field flew out to shallow right. Carlos Gomez then bunted in the air into a 3–5 double play, with Robertson doubled off third.
On the Marlins side, their best chance came with in the 15th, when they had a runner at second and none out, but couldn’t move Realmuto any further.
Wilson Ramos got the scoring started for the Rays when he crushed the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first 434 feet to dead center field off Trevor Richards. The two-run shot, which followed a Matt Duffy hit by pitch, was Ramos’ 12th home run of the year.
The Rays offense kept rolling in the top of the second inning as the first three batters reached base. Daniel Robertson doubled, Adeiny Hechavarria drove him in with his own double, and Mallex Smith chased home Hechavarria with an RBI single to left field.
Ryan Yarbrough got the start for the first time since June 11, and pitched a perfect first inning, then ran into trouble in the second. Justin Bour led the inning off with a single, but Yarbrough retired the next two batters. With two outs, J.T. Riddle doubled and Lewis Brinson was intentionally walked to load the bases for the pitcher Richards, who lined a two-run single into center field to cut the lead in half at 4–2.
The Rays had a good chance to add more on the scoreboard in the fourth inning when Adeiny Hechavarria and Smith started the inning with back-to-back singles to set the table. However with runners at first and third and no out, Kevin Cash pinch hit for Yarbrough with C.J. Cron, who struck out looking. Kevin Kiermaier then hit a ball sharply up the middle, but Smith was running on the pitch, allowing the shortstop Riddle to field the ball, and tag second base as he was going to cover the bag, and had plenty of time to complete the double play on Kiermaier, ending the threat.
Austin Pruitt came on in relief of Yarbrough. Pruitt pitched a clean fourth inning, but coughed up the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck walked to lead off the inning, Starlin Castro singled, then Brian Anderson singled home Shuck and sent Castro to third. Castro scored on a sacrifice fly by J.T. Realmuto. The Marlins then loaded the bases when Miguel Rojas flew out to shallow right-center field, Anderson tried scoring the go-ahead run, but was gunned down at the plate on a perfect throw by Kiermaier.
Hunter Wood followed with three scoreless innings. Chaz Roe pitched one frame, and Sergio Romo, Ryne Stanek, and Nuno worked two frames apiece.
Coverage of the Fourth of July series finale begins with the pregame show on the Rays Radio Network at 12:30 p.m. Dave and Andy have the call with first pitch from Miami at 1:10 p.m.
