Game 149: Detroit Tigers 4 Rays 3— Postgame News and Notes
Ryan Yarbrough and the Rays fell behind early, and this time weren’t able to make up that difference. Tampa Bay (92–57) fell 4–3 to the Tigers on Saturday at Tropicana Field. The magic number for the Rays to win the AL East remains at six.
Detroit scored three in the first and one in the second against Yarbrough, all on homers. Akil Baddoo and Jonathan Schoop opened the game with singles, and after Yarbrough retired the next two batters, Jeimer Candelario belted a three-run homer off the batter’s eye in center field for a 3–0 lead. It was Candelario’s 16th homer of the season and fourth against Tampa Bay.
Dustin Garneau hit a leadoff homer in the second, his fifth of the season, for a 4–0 advantage. It’s at that point that Yarbrough got into a good rhythm, retiring 15 of his final 16 hitters including his final 13 in a row. Collin McHugh pitched a 1–2–3 seventh and J.T. Chargois had a scoreless eighth. Joey Krehbiel, a former Seminole HS standout, struck out two in the ninth without allowing a run. He became the 60th player used by Tampa Bay this year, adding to the franchise record.
The Rays took advantage of their only opportunity against Tigers starter Tarik Skubal to get on the board in the second. Manuel Margot singled to left, and Jordan Luplow followed with a homer to left, his fourth with Tampa Bay and 11th overall, making it 4–3.
Skubal went three innings, allowing three hits while striking out two. Jose Urena came on for the fourth and he walked Margot. Luplow followed with a base-hit to right center, moving Margot to third. Ji-Man Choi then grounded into a 4–6–3 double play, scoring Margot to make it a 4–3 game.
From there, Tampa Bay had chances. In the sixth, Margot, who reached base four times, doubled with two out, but pinch-hitter Austin Meadows grounded to second against Urena.
In the seventh, Alex Lange replaced Urena with one out and the tying run at second. Joey Wendle flew out to right for the second out, but Brett Phillips was hit by a pitch. Yandy Diaz then flew out shy of the warning track in left-center.
In the eighth against Kyle Funkhouser, Margot and Meadows singled with two out. Ji-Man Choi popped out to Candelario at third, keeping Detroit in front.
Then in the ninth, Mike Zunino walked and Wendle was hit by a pitch. Phillips struck out and Diaz hit into a 4–6–3 double play, ending the game.
The Rays were playing short-handed. Nelson Cruz missed a second straight game after being hit by a pitch in the first game of the series. Kevin Kiermaier was put on the COVID-19 IL before the game, and Taylor Walls was scratched due to illness.
The Rays and Tigers wrap up the four-game set and the season series on Sunday. Shane McClanahan (9–5 3.59) starts opposite Willy Peralta (3–3 3.32). Coverage on the Rays Radio Network begins at 12:30 p.m. and Dave and Andy will have the call with first pitch at 1:10.
