TAMPA, Fla. — The last time the Tampa Bay Rays faced the Cleveland Guardians; they lost an extra-innings heart breaker.
On Thursday night, the Rays got their revenge with a 4-2 series opening victory over Cleveland, opening a four-game home stand as the two clubs jockey for position in the American League wild card race.
The Rays relied on small ball and Cleveland’s mistakes to cruise to their seventh win in a row and their 10th in 12 games. Ryan Pepiot threw five innings and 90 pitches of no-hit baseball, and Christopher Morel came alive at the plate and on the base paths.
“His stuff is as good now as it was in the early part of the year,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said after the win. “He’s getting a lot of chase above the zone and he’s got a change up that he can throw in the zone to reset the count or get them to chase.”
After fanning six hitters on Thursday, Pepiot has 15 strikeouts in his last three starts while allowing just two hits. He also earned his third-straight winning decision, the longest single-season streak of his career.
“Just trying to fill up the zone and keep hitters honest,” Pepiot said. “Not necessarily be predictable in hitters counts.”
While Pepiot continued to deal against the Guardians batting order, Morel emerged as an offensive catalyst after not playing since Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
“He had a huge night for us,” Cash said of Morel. “He came up in a big way, and that’s a challenge for Mo that he’s not in there every day, but he’s making the most of it.”
After a dismal July, Morel put together a productive August, hitting three home runs with four RBIs in 14 games. In the early days of September, he is 3-for-5.
“You look at his numbers; they’ve turned into very respectable numbers, and they’ve helped us a lot when he comes in there and contributes.”
Morel stays ready for the chance to contribute, and his gratitude for the opportunity to play is unaffected by how often he is in the game or what he is asked to do.
“Just trying to control what I can control,” Morel said. “Every time the manager puts me in the game or the lineup, it’s something I need to respect.”
“Be ready for the opportunity they give me. He [Cash] knows what he’s doing, and we see the result.”
The Guardians threatened in the top of the ninth inning when Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo hit back-to-back solo shots off Rays closer Pete Fairbanks with no outs, but Fairbanks rallied to retire three straight hitters and slam the door on Cleveland's hopes at a comeback.
The win puts Tampa Bay (71-69) in sixth place in the AL wild card race. Currently, they hold the same record as the fifth place Kansas City Royals while trailing a half game behind the fourth place Texas Rangers (72-69).
Tampa Bay is two games behind the Seattle Mariners for the third and final wild card spot. Meanwhile, the Guardians are 1.5 games behind the Rays.
The two clubs will face off again on Friday at 7:35 p.m. ET as Rays southpaw Ian Seymour (2-0, 2.97 ERA) faces Guardians righty Gavin Williams (9-5, 3.26 ERA).
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