TAMPA, Fla. — Following a difficult extra-innings road loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 27, the Tampa Bay Rays tapped into the power of music during an off day in the nation’s capital before a three-game set against the Washington Nationals.
“There was a karaoke night that everybody went to,” Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson said on Thursday. “Everybody did their thing there, so that was a good little bonding session for everybody just to ease off and come together for something fun.”
Since then, Tampa Bay has won seven straight for the first time in two years and is 10-2 over its last 12 after getting back at the Guardians with a 4-2 victory on Thursday at home. Hopes of the Rays making the postseason were on life support, and now they are firmly back in the American League wild card picture.
Simpson decided to take the stage with shortstop Carson Williams, as the rookies performed a duet of “Same Girl” by R. Kelly and Usher. However, another rookie stole the show.
“I say [Jake] Mangum, he won it,” Simpson added. “He sang a couple good songs and he has a good little voice on him, too.”
The leisurely activity sparked something in the Rays; a sense of chemistry, surging confidence and a hot streak reminiscent of their dominant 25-9 stretch in the first half of the season.
“It’s motivating us for sure. The fact that we’re this close, we might as well take it a step further and a step further after that.”
Heading into Friday’s slate of games, the Rays 71-69 are two games behind the Seattle Mariners (73-67) for the final American League wild card spot.
For Simpson and the rest of the team, the goal is simple: Stay focused on the day-to-day.
“The fact that we are nearing toward a playoff push is great,” Simpson said. “We’ve got to continue to take it day by day.”
22 games remain for the Rays to continue to make a push for the postseason, but the team will not look that far ahead. Instead, they will isolate each moment and make it the center of attention.
“Controlling what we can control. Just coming together; literally taking one pitch, one AB, one play one game, one day at a time.”
With a patient approach, and a little bit of song, the Rays might punch their ticket to October.
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