Rays 2, Marlins 6: Citrus series disaster as Rays fail to drum up run support

At least it was a day game.

Welcome to the first game post-trade deadline, where we see who is left and how they’re going to play for the remaining months of the season.

Taj Bradley was on the mound for the Rays, up against Roddery Munoz for the Marlins.

The Marlins went 1-2-3 to start the first. The Rays then drew first blood in the game as Christopher Morel hit a solo home run with two outs in the top of the first.

However, the Marlins wasted no time getting one back as Jonah Bridge started the top of the second with a homer of his own. In the bottom of the second, Richie Palacios got a one-out walk, then stole second. Jonny DeLuca then tripled to bring Palacios home. Don’t get too excited though, because if the headline wasn’t enough of a spoiler, this would be the last run the Rays would score this afternoon. Palacios left the game after hurting himself on the steal, replaced by Dylan Carlson.

As the game headed into the third, former Ray Vidal Brujan doubled, then advanced to third on a wild pitch from Bradley. Ali Sanchez then drew a walk. A Xavier Edwards sac fly scored Brujan, then Jake Burger cleared the bases to bring the score to 4-2. As things turned over to the Rays, Yandy Diaz singled, but was then eliminated in a double play.

Jesus Sanchez singled to start the fourth, but three outs quickly followed. In the home half, Josh Lowe doubled, but then, you guessed it, three outs followed.

The fifth inning was three-up, three-down for both sides and also marked the end of the night for both starters. Taj Bradley went 5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 H, 2 HR on 94 pitches.

Edwin Uceta replaced Bradley, allowing a one-out double to Bride, but then getting out of the inning without another run. Andrew Nardi was the new reliever for the Marlins in the top of the sixth, giving up a two-out walk to Josh Lowe, who then stole second. It didn’t help him.

Nick Gordon kicked off the seventh with a single, followed by a Vidal Brujan singled. Both runners advanced on an Ali Sanchez sac bunt. Xavier Edwards then came in to single and bring home both Gordon and Brujan, bringing the score to 6-2. Two outs and Sanchez caught stealing then ended the inning. Jonny Deluca tripled in the home half, but no one managed to convert the run.

Joel Kuhnel was the next Rays reliever to face the Marlins, and got them out in order. Anthony Bender came in to replace Jesus Tinoco for the Marlins and allowed a one-out single to Brandon Lowe, and a two-out single to an en fuego Josh Lowe, but neither Lowe came home.

Top of the ninth the Marlins went 1-2-3, thankfully. Then Calvin Faucher came in to close out the game, and got the Rays out in order.

Final: Marlins 6, Rays 2