Are these really Kevin Cash’s Rays bunting their way to a victory?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Rays have talked a lot during their now nearly two-month run with the majors’ best record about the versatility, creativity and productivity of their offense.

But now this is getting crazy.

Wednesday, in improving to a season-best 10 games over .500 and staying within a game of the American League East-leading Yankees, the Rays (45-35) scored all of their runs in a 3-0 win over the Royals during a second-inning rally in which only two balls were hit out of the infield.

How?

In large part, because manager Kevin Cash called for two squeeze bunts in the inning, and Jose Caballero and Danny Jansen got them down and the run in.

Yes, the same Cash who for many seasons not only declined but seemed to detest bunting gave the sign twice in a three-batter span, as he has multiple times during the Rays’ hot streak.

Manager Kevin Cash called for two squeeze bunts in a three-batter span during the Ray’s three-run second inning. [ CHARLIE RIEDEL | AP ]

“We’re bunting; bizarre, huh?” said six-year veteran pitcher Drew Rasmussen, who threw five strong innings. “Yeah, it’s crazy. But it’s been working.

“It’s one of those things that I just think opening our minds to different ways to win games has been huge. Whatever (Cash) seems to say seems to work right now. He tells guys to run, he tells guys to bunt, he tells guys to do a number of different things. And every call he’s making seems to be working over these last six weeks. So it’s fun to see.

“It’s different, that’s for sure,” Rasmussen continued. “Especially it’s new to guys who’ve been around a little bit. But it is fun to watch. I think it’s our athleticism; it speaks to how we can win games.”

When the Rays went to the playoffs five straight seasons from 2019-23, the lack of bunting — evidenced by no more than eight sacrifice bunts in any of those seasons, including none in the abbreviated 2020 campaign — was an occasional topic of conversation.

Sometimes it would be about weighing the value of giving up one of their 27 precious outs. Other times about not having the players to do it or the appropriate situations because of who was batting next.

But going into this season, open to any and all ways to improve an offense that was one of the majors’ worst last year, the Rays were using the b-word a lot, setting up drills and regular practice sessions for all who wanted to try squaring around.

Certainly having a team with fast runners, and several candidates for whom good bunting would be an added offensive asset, they have started doing it more.

Cash gave the credit to the players who did the prep work and have executed when the opportunity presented.

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Explore all your optionsDrew Rasmussen allowed just two hits and two walks over five scoreless innings, improving his record to 7-5 and lowering his ERA to 2.45, eighth-best in the majors [ CHARLIE RIEDEL | AP ]

“I think it’s a product that the guys do a tremendous job of working at it, and then making it happen, executing,” Cash said. “Both those bunts (Wednesday) that we got down, they’re doing it to where there’s no play at home.

“It’s not easy to bunt. They’re making it look easier than what it is. And the guys, they’re embracing whatever situation to score a run, to get it done, they’re doing it.”

That included Jansen, the 30-year-old catcher who until Wednesday hadn’t had a sacrifice bunt since 2021.

“It’s just part of kind of what makes us special is we’re willing to do whatever it takes to get some runs in,” he said.

Singles to the outfield by Christopher Morel and Josh Lowe gave the Rays runners on the corners with one out against Michael Wacha.

Caballero then dropped a perfectly placed bunt toward first base, so much so that the Royals couldn’t get an out at home or anywhere else.

“If we get on the board, it’s a good chance we can win games,” he said. “I feel like (bunting) just takes away stressful at-bats for us and just simplifies everything to just put the bunt down and try to score the run. That’s it.”

Speedy Chandler Simpson, who also made a couple of good plays in centerfield, did what he does well, hitting a ball on the ground and turning it into an infield single to load the bases.

Wacha threw a wild pitch, allowing Lowe to score and Caballero to move to third. Then Cash gave another bunt sign, and Jansen delivered a smooth sacrifice, squaring around and pushing the ball toward first, scoring Caballero.

“It’s just being prepared for that opportunity throughout the year, whether it’s bunting on the backfield early on, or I’ve gotten a couple (chances) as of late, too,” Jansen said.

“Just kind of understand the situation, and knowing that after the wild pitch, second and third, less than two (out), I looked over, got (the sign) and was willing, obviously, to put it down. So, knowing the opportunity is coming and obviously getting it down was huge.”

This doesn’t mean the Rays are going to bunt regularly. But it certainly has become another weapon.

“We can still hit homers,” Rasmussen said. “But our athleticism is off the charts, and that allows us to have a little bit more freedom to do some things.”

Today

at Royals, 2:10 TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Sun; 95.3-FM, 620-AM

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