*Photo from Bay News 9*
Back and forth we go. Ben Rortvedt hit a grand slam, Jose Siri broke the tie late, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Atlanta Braves with a 8-6 victory Sunday afternoon in Atlanta.
The win avoids a sweep for the Rays, sitting in last in the AL East at 34-38 with just 3 wins in their last 10 games. It was a longball fest in this game, with the Rays hitting 3 home runs out of the 6 in the game. It was particularly needed for the Rays after combining for 5 runs in the last two games.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said after the game that "I'm pleased with the hits. Lowe’s home run early, we’ll take it right now. I want these guys to feel good about what they’re capable of doing at the plate."
In the first inning, the Rays took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Randy Arozarena. In the bottom of the first, Jarred Kelenic tied the game for the Braves with a solo home run. Travis D'Arnaud gave the Braves a 2-1 lead in the second before Brandon Lowe tied it 2-2 in the 3rd inning. Rortvedt hit a grand slam in the 4th to put the Rays ahead 6-2.
Adam Duvall hit an RBI single in the 6th to make it 6-3 and Austin Riley scored on an error, cutting the Braves deficit to 6-4. In the 8th inning, Riley hit a two run home run to center field to tie the game 6-6. In the 9th, Siri broke the deadlock and put the Rays over the top with a two run home run to center field.
Cash said of Siri's at bat in the 9th "Hung in there. He got a pitch that he didn’t like called on the first pitch. Then he fouled a ball off his foot. He was in some considerable pain. He got some time to regroup. I’m proud of the way he hung in there against a good closer. He got a changeup down in the zone."
Zach Eflin gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings in his start for the Rays. Kevin Kelly got the last out of the 6th before Colin Poche pitched a scoreless 7th inning. Jason Adam allowed two runs in the 8th while Pete Fairbanks got his 10th save of the season in the 9th.
Hurston Waldrep allowed 6 runs on 5 hits and 4 walks in 3 1/3 innings for the Braves, making his second major league start. Dylan Lee handled 1 2/3 scoreless innings before Grant Holmes struck out a pair of hitters in 3 scoreless innings. Raisel Iglesias pitched the 9th and took his first loss of the season at the hands of Siri.
The Braves get back in action on Monday, with Max Fried starting the series opener against the Detroit Tigers. The Rays start their next series Tuesday after a day off, taking on the Minnesota Twins with Aaron Civale starting.
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