During a night in honor of a big big one that nobody will forget, the rays continued a season that we are all desperate to see the end.
I will admit it, I will eat my crow: I thought that this year would be considerably better than this. I thought this year a team, with many improved bullpen and healthy rotation, would perform the 2024 rays that apparently understood 6 consecutive months. But I was clearly wrong. I have no idea how I could have been mistaken so wrong, and so wild off -based.
At this point, 80 victories appear to be a really unattainable achievement. To do that, the rays 23 should win more games (24 if they want to reach .500 and 25 to surpass it). This should all be bigger than .500 in their remaining 44 competitions.
Tonight the rays fortunately did not wait until the 8th to break our hearts, it was almost over before the sun went along the west coast. Joe Boyle was not sharp at all, continued his bad command and served some monster decision to Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh.
I would like to think this was a very classic case tonight. You know how when you return to your hometown or hang around with old secondary school friends, and all the progress in your life disappears and suddenly you are not an accomplished and smart and successful adult butt man, but instead the guy who thrown in the bushes in the bush after too much midori.
Anyway, for Joe Boyle this was very much a return to the days of his Oakland A where the Mariners were well familiar with the flame that the wild man threw who could not find the zone but can find a barrel.
Boyle certainly showed the dazzling things that really hope for the future, but also the loggee order that makes you afraid of the safety of everyone behind the home plate. Now that the season is rapidly in the abyss, Boyle is a number of large Leauge promotion like this to try to go through a deep and stacked line -up, useful. It did not work and the potential AL MVP made him well, but these are lessons that hopefully show that Boyle can reach the next level.
For the Rays side of things, just like in Game 1 of the series, this is an attack with two members who contribute. Brandon Lowe gave the rays a lead again in the 1st inning on another solo -home run. Junior Caminero hit another Homer, this time of the 3 -run variety, to bring the rays a little closer.
16 points have been scored in this series. 15 of them are driven by 4 men: Julio, Cal, Junior and Blowe. The only run that was not driven by that quartet is a wild pitch.
After two games, the Cal Raleigh/Julio Rodriguez -pair covered the Lowe/Caminero -Duo. Will there be a batter in a run tomorrow? Coordinate with the mystery!
Before the game, Ichiro Suzuki got his number retired by the Mariners. Ichiro is an athlete that almost transcends the team and was really a cultural icon. Just like Griffey JR for him, I am not sure whether a small League will play during the MLB career of Ichiro not tried to simulate his percussion position, his almost winding sprint to the first, and throws his iconic cannon.
The rays that are needed to float, but the Mariners play even more. Not only are haunting a division title, but they also play in honor of an all -time. The rays simply cannot compete with that. On the field, off, for pride, honor or glory.
Mariners now 2-2 in securing victories, looking for a perfect stroke average of 3-3 series that Ichiro would make proud.
#IchiRold #Rays #Mariners