Rays take advantage of Reds’ mistakes and rally to win game and series

ST. PETERSBURG — With Sunday’s game starting at an unusually early hour, the Rays’ offense appeared to be dormant through the first seven innings.

Fortunately, they got some help from the Reds in the eighth inning and rallied for a 2-1 series-clinching victory in front of an announced crowd of 19,873 at Tropicana Field.

After two walks and an infield single loaded the bases, the Rays tied the game when Fernando Cruz’s third strike to Amed Rosario bounced off catcher Austin Wynns, allowing pinch-runner Jose Caballero to score from third. Lucas Sims then walked Richie Palacios to bring in Brandon Lowe with the go-ahead run.

The win secured the Rays’ 10th victory in the last 12 series and moved them two games over .500 (54-52) for the first time since May 20.

The Reds (50-55) wasted a standout start by right-hander Hunter Greene, who limited the Rays to two hits in seven scoreless innings, and a four-steal game by shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

Greene didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning. After De La Cruz made a terrific backhanded catch sliding between third baseman Santiago Espinal and left fielder Spencer Steer on Taylor Walls’ fly ball to left field, Brandon Lowe broke it up with a line drive single to right field.

Greene then hit Isaac Paredes with a pitch, putting the Rays in scoring position for the second time in the game. But Josh Lowe struck out to end the inning. In the fifth, Greene walked Palacios and hit Jonny DeLuca to put Tampa Bay in scoring position, but Ben Rortvedt popped out to end the inning.

Greene hit two batters and walked another, struck out five and threw 100 pitches. It was the 22nd consecutive start with at least five strikeouts for the hard-throwing right-hander.

Cincinnati’s offense wasn’t much more awake than the Rays’.

The Reds scored an unearned run in the second inning on Wynns’ RBI single after Isaac Paredes’ throwing error allowed Stuart Fairchild to reach base. Espinal also attempted to score on the play but was thrown out at the plate by shortstop Taylor Walls.

The throwing error was Paredes’ first of two in the game, the first time that had happened since May 31, 2023.

His second homer allowed De La Cruz to reach base in the eighth inning. The Reds’ dynamic shortstop then stole his fourth base of the game, forcing a throwing error by catcher Ben Rortvedt that allowed him to take third. But Garrett Cleavinger managed a harmless popout to end the inning.

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It was the second time in his career that De La Cruz stole four bases in a game.

The Reds’ run came with Shawn Armstrong on the mound, as the Rays opted for a bullpen day instead of a traditional starter in what would have been Zach Eflin’s turn in the rotation. Eflin, of course, was traded to the Orioles on Friday.

The bullpen was also affected by a trade, as top reliever Jason Adam was sent to the Padres before first pitch Sunday.

Young reliever Edwin Uceta stepped up and gave the Rays two scoreless innings and four strikeouts. Manuel Rodriguez pitched one scoreless inning, striking out one. Tyler Zuber then struck out two and walked one in two innings of work. Cleavinger pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Pete Fairbanks allowed one hit before earning his 20th save of the season.

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