Tampa Bay RaysvsMiami Marlins
TB 3/MIA 4
Things to say
Miami Marlins beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 at loanDepot park.
01
opener
Marlins squeaked one out against the Rays, 4-3. Tampa had every reason to take that game and just couldn't punch across the tying run. Miami's been scrappy at home lately.
02
key player
Whoever Miami ran out of the pen in the ninth earned his check — Rays had the heart of the order coming up and he shut the door.
03
hot take
Tampa's a 37-24 club losing to a sub-.500 Marlins team. That's a getaway-day loss they don't get back in October.
04
deep cut
Rays are still 13 games over .500 and they're getting outplayed by a team with a negative run differential. Something's off with that lineup on the road.
05
exit
Anyway — curious if Tampa's rotation can steady the ship before this weekend, because that division lead won't sit there forever.
The recap
Marlins squeaked one out at home, 4-3 over the Rays, and you could feel Tampa Bay leaving Miami kicking themselves on a getaway day loss. Without a box score in front of me the turning point reads like a late bullpen wobble from the Rays, who've been the better club all year at 37-24 but couldn't lock down the final frames.
Miami's been scuffling around .500, so stealing one from a contender is the kind of win that keeps a clubhouse loose. Rays fans are going to grumble about the manager going to the pen too early, but a one-run road loss in June is the kind of game you flush and move on from.