Washington NationalsvsTampa Bay Rays
WSH 2/TB 5
Things to say
Tampa Bay beat Washington 5-2 at the Trop on Friday night.
01
opener
Rays handled the Nats 5-2 last night. Felt like Tampa was in control after the third. Nationals never really threatened.
02
key player
Tampa's bats got into his stuff early — couple balls left the yard and that was the ballgame.
03
hot take
Washington manager went to the pen way too early. You gotta let your starter wear it in a 3-run game.
04
deep cut
Rays are 42-30 now, quietly hanging around the heart of that AL East race. Nobody's talking about them.
05
exit
Anyway, we'll see if the Nats can steal one before they get out of Tampa.
The recap
Rays handled the Nationals 5-2 at the Trop, and it never really felt closer than that. Tampa's starter got into his stuff early, kept Washington's heart of the order quiet, and handed it off with a lead the bullpen didn't sweat.
Nats couldn't string anything together — two runs total, nobody left the yard, and every time they got a guy on, the next at-bat killed it. Rays now sit 42-30 and looking like the team you don't want to catch on a getaway day.