The Cleveland Guardians (57-62) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (71-49) 9-2 on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field. The loss prevented the Rays from completing a three-game sweep against the team that eliminated Tampa Bay in the postseason last October.
Zach Eflin (12-7, 3.67) struggled in this one, allowing six earned runs on nine hits in just three innings of work while striking out three and walking one. After the Rays got one back to pull within 6-1 in the bottom of the third, Cleveland added two in the fourth and one in the fifth to turn this game into a blowout.
Perhaps the biggest moment for the Rays came in the third when Osleivis Basabe hit a double on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues for his first major league hit.
The Rays now head west for a six-game California trip that begins on Monday night against the Giants. Tyler Glasnow, coming back from back stiffness, is hopeful to start on Monday night against the Giants. First pitch Monday night is scheduled for 9:45 PM - Chris Adams-Wall begins pregame coverage at 9:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES