DENVER -- With the Trade Deadline officially in the rear-view mirror, Tuesday was a day for friendly introductions and a night for first impressions for the newest Rays.
Right-hander Freddy Peralta made his Rays debut alongside fellow Deadline pickup Liam Hicks behind the plate to start Tuesday night’s game at Coors Field. But Tampa Bay’s bullpen wound up stealing the show, as six relievers combined to work 7 1/3 scoreless innings in the Rays’ 9-7, 11-inning win against the Rockies.
The recently acquired batterymates’ initial impressions varied in quality. For Peralta, it was a forgettable beginning to his fresh start with the Rays, as he gave up seven runs over 3 2/3 innings. For Hicks, it was a grand arrival.
In his second at-bat with his new team, Hicks launched the Rays’ first grand slam of the season -- and the first of his young career -- out to right field to give Tampa Bay a 5-1 lead in the third inning. That made Hicks the first player in franchise history to hit a grand slam in his Rays debut.
Unlike most games played at Coors Field, the scoring slowed down after that. What looked like another barnburner in the making instead became an exchange of zeros.
The Rays’ bats were quiet until the ninth, when Jonathan Aranda’s game-tying single erased a two-run deficit. Tampa Bay’s bullpen settled things down in the meantime, with Cam Booser, Casey Legumina, Steven Matz, Kevin Kelly and Garrett Cleavinger combining to allow just two hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings before the Rays finally regained the lead in the 11th.
Automatic runner Ben Williamson scampered home thanks to Taylor Walls’ sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch, then Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero delivered a pair of hits to give All-Star closer Bryan Baker a little more breathing room.
Baker delivered as he so often has for the Rays, retiring all three batters he faced to secure his Major League-leading 32nd save and avoid any further drama.