*Photo from TSN*
This was a matchup that had a surprising amount of playoff implications for one team in particular. Bobby Witt Jr homered, Michael Massey drove in the game winning run, and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Tampa Bay Rays with a 3-2 victory in 10 innings on Friday night in Tampa Bay.
Entering Friday's game having lost the series opener and 4 straight games in total, the Royals did what needed to be done, taking game two of the series. It's just the 4th win in the last 10 games for the Royals, but they helped to spoil the Rays party, with the Rays needing every win they can get in the AL Wild Card race.
Witt Jr, when asked about the team's win, said that "Everyone did their part. Brady started us off. Late in the game, we were playing great defense all around, MJ making a great play and Salvy making a great play. It was a lot of fun, everyone being a part of it."
After the first two innings went scoreless, Witt Jr took matters into his own hands. With MJ Melendez on base in the 3rd inning, Witt Jr blasted a two run home run to center field, putting the Royals ahead 2-0. A few innings later, in the 6th, Randy Arozarena responded for the Rays, hitting a two run single to tie the game at a 2-2 score.
The rest of regulation time went scoreless, so it was time for extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Massey delivered, hitting a sac fly to Arozarena in right, scoring Michael A Taylor from 3rd base and putting the Royals ahead 3-2, a lead they held.
After the game, Royals manager Mike Matheny said that "This guy’s been throwing really well and you knew he wasn’t going to give up a lot, and he had everything going. He wasn’t giving up much but the guys were efficient with what we did get."
That guy that Matheny was talking about was Shane McClanahan, who had another strong start for the Rays. McClanahan allowed two runs on two hits and 3 walks over 7 innings, striking out 8 hitters. Jason Adam worked a shutout 8th inning, and Jalen Beeks pitched two innings, getting stuck with the loss.
For the Royals, Brady Singer got the start, allowing two runs on 5 hits, striking out 7 hitters in 6 innings pitched. Dylan Coleman came out of the bullpen next, throwing two shutout innings. Scott Barlow got the win with two innings pitched after that.
Rays utility player Harold Ramirez said that "It’s a tough loss for us because we know we just need to win. We're looking for the playoffs. But we have to turn the page. Tomorrow’s a new day for everybody."
Up next, the Royals and Rays continue their series on Saturday afternoon. Kris Bubic starts for the Royals, while Drew Rasmussen gets the start for the Rays.
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