For the Tampa Bay Rays, it is not how a game begins. It is how it ends.
The Rays, escape artists that they are, are starting to develop a gift for the comeback.
Despite a rough start, falling behind by three runs and playing poorly, the Rays came from three runs down once again. It was the third game in the last four where they have rallied despite a three-run deficit, and their overall 24th comeback of the year. This time, it was 9-6 over Atlanta in a game that was comfortable only when Curt Casali hit a home run during the Rays’ six-run seventh inning.
The Braves, too, had their problems in the field, especially in that seventh. A wild pitch, a pitcher not covering second and a fly ball that wasn’t caught and bounced into the stands for a double led the way.
Jake Odorizzi didn’t pitch his finest game, but he got the win. Brad Boxberger walked two, but he picked up his 29th save.
For most of the night, it went that way. The Rays failed to catch popups and made several other sloppy misplays.
Still, it was the Rays’ fourth straight win and their seventh in the last nine games. It puts the Rays two games above .500 and still in both the division and wild card races.
Both Grady Sizemore and James Loney had three hits. Asdrubal Cabrera had two.
The Rays have today off, then travel to Arlington to face the Rangers.
