Rays 4, Phillies 9: Tensions mounted as the Rays dropped their second game in the series

Benches cleared, homers were reversed, and the Rays got the L.

Happy Tuesday, friends, and welcome to a game that really could have gone either way tonight. Taj Bradley was on the mound for the Rays, up against Ranger Suarez for the Phillies, and while Suarez continued a trend of a flagging second half, the Phillies bats weren’t lacking any pop.

Christopher Morel started things off for the Rays with a leadoff double, but three outs followed to leave him stranded. In the home half Kyle Schwarber broke a single season record for leadoff home runs but lobbing his 14th of the season and putting the Phillies on the board early. Three outs followed the Schwarbomb, but the Phils still had first blood.

Junior Caminero got a one-out single in the second, followed by a Dylan Carlson single. Then a Jose Caballero single brought Caminero home to tie up the game. For the Phillies, Brandon Marsh got a one-out single, then a Johan Rojas double scored Marsh and it really shouldn’t have. The fielding was something of a hot mess. The error was issued to Josh Lowe.

Jonathan Aranda doubled to start the third, and a one-out Yandy Diaz single brought him home, tying the game up yet again. Junior Caminero singled, but no one was able to bring him home. Kyle Schwarber started the home half of the inning with a walk, before Trea Turner homered to give the Phillie a 4-2 lead. Bryce Harper then got a standup double and it looked like there might be some danger afoot, but Bradley settled and got the final three outs.

Jose Caballero got a one-out walk in the top of the fourth, but a double play then ended the inning. Garrett Stubbs walked in the home half, and then Kyle Schwarber was pulled from the game, evidently for elbow issues, being replaced by Buddy Kennedy, who struck out to end the inning.

Onto the fifth and the Rays got a bit of hustle going. Jonny DeLuca got a one-out single, then Josh Lowe got a two-out single. Caminero singled to bring DeLuca home.

In the home half, Bryce Harper homered, but Josh Lowe immediately indicated fan interference and an umpire review the homer was adjusted to a double, but the Rays contested suggesting Lowe could have caught the ball had the fan not grabbed it. The call ultimately settled on it being a double. It turned out to be what they needed, as two outs followed and the Phillies failed to bring Harper home.

Logan Driscoll singled to start the sixth, then a one-out triple from Morel brought him home and died the game up again. Aranda walked, and that was the end of the day for Suarez, who was replaced by Orion Kerkering. Kerkering ended the inning with no additional runs scored. The Phillies went 1-2-3 in the home half.

Matt Strahm was the next Phillies pitcher up, and got the Rays out in order. After six innings, Bradley was done for the night, replaced by Manuel Rodriguez. Bradley’s final line for the night was 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 HR. Not a bad night for the pitcher, just a few hiccups against a strong offensive club. Rodriguez got two outs before giving up a single to Trea Turner, and with Bryce Harper coming, they opted to turn things over to Richard Lovelady. Haper then singled to put two men on, but Lovelady got the final out in Castellanos.

Former Ray Jose Alverado came in for the Phillies and got the Rays out 1-2-3. Bryson Stott technically grounded out to start the home half, but it was one of those “only in baseball” plays, as the ball hit the first base umpire.

Brandon Marsh then walked. A Kody Clemens double put two men on in scoring position, and that was it for Lovelady. Edwin Uceta replaced him, and gave up a double to Cal Stevenson to score two runs. The Phillies weren’t done yet though. Buddy Kennedy had an RBI single, then Trea Turner got a two-run homer. Bryce Harper doubled, then Nick Castellanos was hit by a pitch. Depending on your read, it did look pretty intentional, and the benches cleared. Uceta’s night was done as he was ejected from the game and replaced by Hunter Bigge. Bigge got the final out of the inning.

Tanner Banks came in to get through the ninth. Jose Siri got a one-out walk, then Josh Lowe got a two-out single. Caminero walked. Even with the bases loaded, though, the Rays weren’t able to stage a comeback.

Final: Phillies 9, Rays 4