The Tampa Bay Rays displayed resilience Friday night despite a sloppy defensive performance that included seven walks, hitting a batter, and three errors resulting in five unearned runs. Their offense, which has been hot since mid-May, continued its strong play en route to a 7-5 victory over the New York Mets. This win positions Tampa Bay for a series triumph if they capture Saturday’s middle game.

Rays’ Offensive Surge Powers Team Amid Strong Recent Form

The Rays collected 13 hits during the game, boosting their record to 16-6 over the last 22 games. During this stretch, the team has produced an MLB-leading average of 5.7 runs per game and stolen 36 bases, both league highs. Tampa Bay has also crushed 33 home runs since mid-May, with a pivotal six-run sixth inning highlighted by Danny Jansen’s two-run homer that secured the lead.

Reflecting on the team’s performance, Rays manager Kevin Cash remarked,

“It goes a long way when you put balls in play and put pressure on the defense,”

and added,

“Good teams do that, right? You have to do a lot of things right to beat that team over there.”

First baseman Jonathan Aranda also contributed with three hits, including a solo home run in the fourth inning, raising his batting average to a team-best .322 and strengthening his case for the upcoming All-Star Game.

Drew Rasmussen to Take the Mound for Rays in Series Decider

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, Tampa Bay plans to start right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who holds a 5-4 record with a 2.22 ERA. Rasmussen’s last outing was on Sunday, when he pitched six innings of a 3-2 win over the Miami Marlins, allowing two runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Notably, this will be Rasmussen’s first career start against the New York Mets.

Mets to Counter with Tylor Megill in Pivotal Game

New York is expected to send Tylor Megill (5-4, 3.76 ERA) to the mound. Megill’s recent performance includes a five-inning, two-run outing in a 13-5 win at Colorado. His only previous start against Tampa Bay resulted in a victory, allowing two runs over six innings. The Mets entered Friday with an impressive 27-7 home record at Citi Field and a six-game winning streak in the series against Tampa Bay.

However, despite holding a 5-1 lead in the sixth inning, the Mets bullpen faltered as relievers Paul Blackburn and Max Kranick surrendered runs during Tampa Bay’s explosive inning. Blackburn, slated to join the starting rotation on Wednesday against Atlanta due to Kodai Senga’s injury, was deployed to manage pitch counts alongside closer Clay Holmes, who had thrown 79 pitches.

Manager Carlos Mendoza explained,

“We knew it was a good chance for him to pitch today,”

adding,

“So with us getting a four-run lead there, I thought that was the right opportunity. Just didn’t go our way.”

Implications for the Series and What Awaits

The Rays’ potent offense combined with Rasmussen’s strong pitching sets the stage for a crucial showdown in this three-game series. Tampa Bay aims to leverage their recent hot streak to claim the series and continue their momentum. Meanwhile, New York seeks to regain control and defend their home field dominance. Saturday’s contest will be pivotal in determining the direction of the series and could shape the confidence of both teams moving forward.