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Photo Credit: Bradley Walker NGSC Sports
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The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off yet another sweep. The Baltimore Orioles took a four-game set at Tropicana Field for the first time in franchise history. This was the 23rd time the Rays got swept in a four-game series. Tampa will see Baltimore again in August. Many say thank goodness because the O’s just destroyed the Rays. This was the first time the Rays have been swept in a four-game series since 2016 by the Detroit Tigers. The Rays have dropped 13 of their last 19 and are currently in last place in the AL East at 31-35. The Chicago Cubs came into last night’s game second in the NL Central at 32-34. The pitching matchup in game one of this three-game series was Jameson Taillon (3-2, 3.47 ERA, and 35Ks). for the Cubs and for Tampa, it was Zach Eflin (3-4 record, 4.14 ERA, with 47Ks).
The visiting Chicago Cubs were in their road grey jerseys with royal blue caps. The Tampa Bay Rays wore a royal blue top, white pants, and royal blue caps. From the looks of it, Cubs fans were here in bunches. This has been the way it has been with teams that travel well. Elfin pitched around an interesting top of the second to keep Chicago off the board. Jose Siri continued to make highlight-reel catches in center field. The Rays finally got their first hit in the bottom of the third off the bat of the catcher Ben Rortvedt. Despite the hit, the Rays struggled to hit with runners in scoring position. First blood was struck by the Cubs coming off a home run from Christopher Morel. That was Morel’s eighth homer of the season. The fourth inning ended the same story just a different inning.
Elfin exited the game after 4 ⅔ innings giving up seven hits, one run, and three strikeouts. He made a throwing error but got out of it without giving up any runs. Chicago took advantage of Elfin leaving as they pinch hit and scored another run to take a 2-0 lead. 15,192 was the announced attendance. A wild pitch got the Rays their first run in the seventh. The big hitter in the lineup continues to struggle in the clutch. Randy Arozarena came in to pinch hit and hit a weak ground ball, Bradon Lowe who went 1 for 5 had a chance to tie the game with a hit but flew out to the right field. It was a tight game heading into the last inning but offenses were stagnant. The advantage was with Chicago as they had the lead.
In the ninth, Jose Caballero came in as a defensive replacement and snuck a hit over the second baseman’s head to allow Richie Palacios to score to tie the game at two. With two on, Lowe’s only hit of the night was a walk-off three-run home run for a big win for the Rays ending their four-game losing streak. The aspects that won the game for the Tampa Bay Rays were pitching and defense despite having an error. The Rays will look to win a series tomorrow as game two of the series first pitch set for 6:50.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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