Drew Rasmussen Close To Perfect In Eight Inning Masterpiece

BY LILY BELCHER

Drew Rasmussen was just three outs away from making history as the first Ray to pitch a perfect game on Sunday. He settled for coming close though, after giving up a disappointing double in the top of the ninth.

While the focus was on Rasmussen’s performance on the mound, Sunday’s 4-1 victory over the Orioles was a key win for the Rays as they extended their third place lead over Baltimore to 1.5 games with just 49 games left in the regular season.

A third inning, three-run blast to left center field by Randy Arozarena and an RBI single by David Peralta in the fifth gave the Rays an early four run lead and buffer for Rays starter Drew Rasmussen.

However, the right hander didn’t need the wiggle room, tossing eight perfect innings and retiring the first 24 batters with just 79 pitches.

Rasmussen needed just seven strikeouts during his outing, relying on the infield to get putouts on Baltimore’s soft contact. But, with three outs to go in the ninth inning, Jorge Mateo snuck a double down the left field line to end Rasmussen’s bid for a perfect game. Mateo scored the Orioles only run off a wild pitch.

Reliever Jason Adam came in for his starter for the final two outs of the game to claim the win in the rubber match against the O’s.

With this season’s elimination of game 163, Sunday’s victory was an important one, giving the Rays a 10-9 edge in their record versus the Orioles this season.  If Tampa Bay and Baltimore’s records are tied at the end of the regular season, the playoff spot is awarded to the team with the winning head-to-head record. This year, thanks to Sunday’s win, a tie will go in the Rays’ favor.

The Rays will continue to cling to the third wildcard spot as they face 14 games in the next 14 days. The Rays will travel to the Bronx with hope to chip away at the Yankees’ 11.5 game lead at the top of the AL East.

In other news…

Wander Franco took batting practice at the Trop, eyeing an end of August return after undergoing wrist surgery.

Manuel Margot and Harold Ramirez inch closer to their return to the Rays lineup, as both are in the latter part of their rehab assignments.

Brandon Lowe was out of Sunday’s lineup with a sore shoulder, but is not expected to go on the IL.

The Yankees are showing their weakness, losing eight of their last 10 games. The Blue Jays lost seven of their last 10 also.

Yarborough is expected to start against the Yankees Monday night with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.