ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays are one step closer to the AL East crown.
There wasn't just one thing that stood out in Tampa Bay's 10-1 victory over the A's at Tropicana Field on Thursday. Here are six -- yes, six -- numbers that detailed this latest triumph at the Trop.
6: This could stand for a number of things. The win was their sixth straight. It came in large part due to a six-run inning, and that frame featured a contribution from the newly activated Taylor Walls -- who wears No. 6.
Big knocks from lefty batters Chandler Simpson and Richie Palacios against A’s southpaw and former Ray Jeffrey Springs highlighted that fourth inning, one in which the Rays sent 10 batters to the plate.
With one out and the bases loaded, Simpson lined a two-run single to center to get Tampa Bay on the board. After Ryan Vilade was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Palacios lined a ball past right fielder Lawrence Butler.
Two runs scored on the double, and Vilade dashed for the plate once the throw home skipped away from catcher Jonah Heim. Springs wasn’t watching the play as Vilade slid head-first onto the unoccupied dish and Palacios moved up to third. Palacios then scored after Walls put a perfect bunt down along the third-base line for an infield single.
“A lot of big at-bats that inning, for sure,” manager Kevin Cash said.
.311: Simpson went 2-for-5 on the afternoon with two runs scored, two RBIs and two stolen bases. His AL-leading 55th multihit game boosted his average to .311 and propelled him past Houston’s Yordan Alvarez (.310) for the AL lead in batting average. Alvarez and the Astros play tonight against the Royals.
But while Houston’s slugger has scuffled at the plate of late, Simpson is batting .356 over the past three months. He’s not one to really put the spotlight on himself, but other Rays are more than happy to praise the second-year speedster.
“I know he hates to talk about numbers; I'll talk about them for him.” Palacios said of Simpson. “He's [an] amazing guy. That's my guy. He's doing an amazing thing in the season. … I know he hates talking about it. I don't say anything around him about it, but hopefully he can finish that off.”
47: Walls’ well-placed RBI hit to cap that fourth inning was the Rays’ 47th bunt hit this season. That is the second-most by any team in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008). Only the 2008 Twins had more bunt hits over that span, with 65.
Walls has accounted for 18 bunt hits since making his Major League debut in 2021, and that plate appearance was more evidence of the little things he does to help this team win. The Rays are thankful to have their shortstop back in the fold.
“He's as important as anybody that's in the lineup on a daily basis.” Cash said. “What he does defensively, what he's created this year offensively for us by getting bunts down, stealing bases, getting some big hits for us -- very important for us.”
11: That fourth inning provided plenty of support for starter Drew Rasmussen, who picked up his 15th win on the year. He coasted through five scoreless innings on 76 pitches (51 strikes), lowering his ERA to 2.72.
It was the Rays’ 11th consecutive win in a game started by Rasmussen. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that ties the franchise record for the longest winning streak in a pitcher’s starts. The Rays also won 11 consecutive Matt Moore starts from Sept. 22, 2012, through May 19, 2013.
“When Ras is on the mound, I know all we have to do is score a couple runs and then our job is done,” Simpson said.
16: The win also wrapped up Tampa Bay’s 16th sweep of the season, extending an already existing franchise record. It’s the most sweeps by any team since the Dodgers had 16 in 2022. It’s the most sweeps by an AL club since the 2019 Astros (17).
“We talk about it every single time we win the first two games in a series: Don't be satisfied,” Rasmussen said.
53: The Rays will close out their regular-season home schedule this weekend with a three-game set against the Red Sox. No matter what happens, it has already been a banner year for Tampa Bay in its return to Tropicana Field. Thursday’s win was the team’s 53rd home victory, tied for the franchise’s second-most in a single-season. Only the pennant-winning group from 2008 celebrated more wins at the Trop (57).
“Getting to be here all year and the success that we've had here -- we all love this place now,” said left-hander Ian Seymour, who will start Friday’s series opener against Boston. “Let's finish strong at home and look forward to seeing the stands packed for the playoffs.”