Austin Wynns gave Texas the extra punch it needed, Cal Quantrill kept Tampa Bay quiet for most of the night, and the Rangers rolled past the Rays 4-1 on Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Quantrill improved to 4-3 after carving through the AL East leaders for 5 1/3 innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven. Texas has now won four of its last five.
The Rangers did plenty of their damage without the big swing early, piecing together a 2-0 lead on sacrifice flies. Nicky Lopez brought home one run in the second, and Ezequiel Duran added another in the third.
Tampa Bay had its best chance to flip the game in the fourth, loading the bases with one out. Quantrill shut it down from there, getting Chandler Simpson to bounce into a double play back to the mound and ending the threat cleanly.
The Rays finally got on the board in the sixth when Junior Caminero delivered his second career triple off Peyton Gray, scoring Yandy Diaz and trimming the deficit to 2-1. But Texas answered right back in the seventh. Wynns launched a 363-foot homer into the left-field stands off Steven Matz to push the Rangers back in front by two.
Evan Carter kept the pressure on in the eighth, lining a hit that scored Duran and made it 4-1. Carter finished with two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
Texas’ bullpen handled the rest. Peyton Gray, Tyler Alexander and Jakob Junis combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings, and Jacob Latz finished it off with a clean ninth for his 21st save.
On the other side, Griffin Jax struck out a career-high-tying 10 but took the loss after giving up five hits and one earned run in 5 2/3 innings.
Tampa Bay had been holding opponents to three runs or fewer in eight straight games, going 6-2 in that stretch.
The Rangers will send left-hander MacKenzie Gore (6-8, 4.82 ERA) to the mound Wednesday against Rays left-hander Ian Seymour (6-3, 4.64).
In Other News...
Rays Stadium Fight Just Took A Turn Fans Feared Most
The Rays push for a new ballpark in Tampa has hit another rough patch, and this one landed in the middle of the political process that was supposed to move the project forward. The stadium plan, valued at more than $2 billion, was set for a City Council vote before the item was pulled from the agenda, a move that has only deepened the uncertainty around one of the franchises biggest off-field priorities.
Mayor Jane Castor did not hide her frustration, publicly criticizing council members for stopping negotiations before they were finished. The original framework called for the team to cover a large share of the cost while taxpayers handled the rest, but the deal was never binding, and the latest delay leaves the Rays waiting for clarity at a time when every missed step makes the road to a new home harder to navigate. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Lose A Trusted Bullpen Arm At The Worst Time
Cole Sulser had become one of the more trusted arms in Tampa Bays bullpen, and his absence comes at a tricky point for a staff that has leaned on every useful inning it can get. The Rays responded by bringing up right-hander Chris Roycroft from Triple-A Durham, a move that keeps the relief group stocked in the short term while they sort out how to cover the innings Sulser had been handling.
The deeper concern is what this means for the days ahead, because Sulsers recent run had given Tampa Bay a steady late-inning option and his loss leaves a noticeable gap. With the bullpen already under pressure, the Rays may have to decide whether to ride out the injury with internal arms or look for outside help as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Contender Suddenly Eyeing A Key Angels Piece Fans Cannot Lose
The Rays are weighing a shortstop upgrade as the trade deadline approaches, but the search is not as simple as chasing the biggest name on the board. Taylor Walls has given Tampa Bay a rare defensive baseline at the position, and his run as one of the leagues most reliable gloves since 2021 makes it hard to justify a move unless the new piece brings more than just a flashier bat.
That is why Otto Lopez has surfaced as such an intriguing fit for Tampa Bays front office. He offers the kind of two-way profile the Rays usually covet, with offense, defense and long-term control all working in his favor, while other options such as Zach Neto would come with more questions on the glove side. The challenge now is finding a deal that improves the lineup without giving away the stability the Rays have built at shortstop. [Read more 🡒]