The Rays unfortunately fell to a series sweep in Seattle as the team that currently employs Randy Arozarena rode the talents of Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez to new heights in their playoff projection. It was also the weekend the Mariners formally retired No. 51, this time for Ichiro Suzuki, although another celebration is planned for the other Randy (Johnson) to receive the same honor next season.
With those vibes, it’s hard to imagine the Rays were winning anything this weekend, and they didn’t!
Tampa Bay had their best chance in the opening game of the series, when Drew Rasmussen took the mound and delivered 6.0 quality innings with four strikeouts, allowing no runs and no walks either. [video]
Rasmussen allowed only four hits, all of them harmless singles, on 79 pitches, in what could be considered his hometown park for the Oregon State graduate. According to mlb.com:
Friday night was Rasmussen’s league-leading 11th outing of five innings or more with no extra-base hits allowed. In his past five starts, he’s allowed just two extra-base hits — both doubles — and he hasn’t given up a home run since July 6. […] Among starters with at least 110 innings thrown this year, Rasmussen’s 17 barreled-up balls allowed are the least in the American League, and tied with the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto for best in baseball.
Coming off his most recent start against the Dodgers, Rasmussen has allowed zero runs in August.
DRAYSBAY PLAYER OF THE SERIES