The Rays were looking to wrap up their four-game homestand against the Royals with a split series, and they would have to do it bright and early, so hopefully they all had their coffee before the game. The Rays had Casey Legumina in an Opener role on the mound, up against Seth Lugo for the Royals,
Legumina got things going with a three-up, three-down first. In the home half, the Rays wasted little time getting on the board. Jonathan Aranda got a one-out single, followed by a home run from Junior Caminero to set the tone for the game. Two outs followed, but the Rays had the early lead.
Legumina’s job was done after one out in the second, and Ian Seymour stepped in to take over the bulk innings role. He got the next two outs to send the Royals back to the dugout. In the home half, Victor Mesa Jr. made wise use of an ABS challenge to earn himself a walk, but he ended up stranded, and no runs scored.
The Royals went 1-2-3 again in the third, and if the Rays’ pitching staff keeps this up, it won’t matter how early this game started because it’ll be done by lunch. The Rays, meanwhile, went 1-2-3 themselves in the bottom of the inning.
By the fourth, it was starting to look like a bit of a pattern as the Royals once again went down in order. Cedric Mullins got a two-out single in the bottom of the inning, then stole second base. The Rays won another meaningful ABS challenge, this time a challenge by the Royals, sending Taylor Walls to first with a walk. Mesa Jr. then came out and like he wanted to get his opportunity back after being left on base in the second, he hit a three-run homer.
The Royals went three-up, three-down in the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, with two outs, Caminero came out and got his second home run of the game.
They weren’t done yet, though. Richie Palacios singled, then advanced to second on what feels like a made-up thing, but is a real rule, and got the free base thanks to a disengagement violation. It worked out great for the Rays, because Chandler Simpson then singled and brought Palacios home.
In the top of the sixth the Royals got their first baserunner of the game with a one-out walk to Starling Marte, but two quick outs followed to leave him stranded. Seth Lugo’s day was done for the Royals, probably for obvious reasons, and he was replaced by Matt Strahm, who came in and got the Rays out in order.
The Royals went 1-2-3 again in the seventh. The Royals dipped back into their bullpen for Connor Seabold, who gave up a leadoff double to Yandy Diaz, followed by a double to Aranda to score the runner and bump the score up to 8-0. Three outs in a row followed to end the inning.
In the top of the eighth the Royals went down in order. Seymour has looked incredible today, really dialled in, very in control. The Royals made another pitching change in the home half, bringing in Tyler Tolbert. He gave up back-to-back singles to Mullins and Taylor Walls. A groundout from Hunter Feduccia scored Mullins, and then a pinch-hitting Nick Fortes came in for Yandy Diaz and singled, scoring Walls. But if you thought the Rays were going to go easy on the Royals with a ten-run lead, think again. Aranda singled. Then Caminero, bless him, hit his third home run of the game.
Palacios snuck in with a single, but the Rays weren’t able to score any additional runs. The score heading into the ninth was 13-0.
Seymour’s day was done, fairly. He went 6.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K on 90 pitches. Craig Kimbrel came in from the bullpen and gave up a leadoff walk to Marte. Then with one out, the no-hitter that had lasted through 8.1 innings was over as Carter Jensen hit a two-run homer, ending both the no-hit bid and the shutout. Kimbrel got out of the inning with just the one slip-up, unfortunately it was a big one. The Rays still walked away with the win, though, and the series split 2-2.
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