SMGB TODAY Sports, Movies, TV Shows
The Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Bay Rays faced off in an interleague matchup that saw two of the top teams in their respective divisions compete for bragging rights. The Braves, currently leading the National League East, looked to add to their lead over the Phillies, while the Rays, sitting in second place in the American League East, aimed to catch up to the division-leading Red Sox.
THU,MARCH 16
The first game of the series saw the Braves send Charlie Morton to the mound to face the Rays’ ace, Tyler Glasnow. Both pitchers put on a show, with Morton striking out 10 batters over 5 2/3 innings and Glasnow striking out 11 batters over 6 innings. The game remained scoreless until the eighth inning, when the Rays’ Austin Meadows hit a two-run homer off Braves reliever Richard Rodriguez, giving the Rays a 2-0 lead that they would hold onto to win the game.
In the second game, the Braves sent their own ace, Max Fried, to the mound, while the Rays countered with their own lefty, Shane McClanahan. The Braves got off to a quick start, with Jorge Soler hitting a leadoff home run in the first inning. The Rays answered back in the second inning with a homer from Ji-Man Choi, but the Braves would retake the lead in the third inning with an RBI single from Dansby Swanson.
The game would remain close throughout, with both teams trading runs and the Braves holding a slim 4-3 lead heading into the ninth inning. Braves closer Will Smith came on to try to close out the game, but he gave up a leadoff homer to the Rays’ Brandon Lowe, tying the game at 4-4. The game would head to extra innings, where the Braves’ Adam Duvall hit a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning to give the Braves a 6-4 lead that they would hold onto to win the game.
In the final game of the series, the Braves sent Drew Smyly to the mound to face the Rays’ Michael Wacha. The game started off well for the Braves, with Freddie Freeman hitting a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Braves an early lead. The Rays would answer back in the second inning with a homer from Kevin Kiermaier, but the Braves would retake the lead in the third inning with another two-run homer, this time from Ozzie Albies.
The Braves would continue to add to their lead throughout the game, with Soler hitting a solo homer in the fifth inning and Freeman adding an RBI single in the seventh inning. The Rays would try to mount a comeback in the ninth inning, scoring two runs off Braves reliever Tyler Matzek, but it wouldn’t be enough, as the Braves held on to win the game 7-4 and take the series 2-1.
The series showcased two strong teams with playoff aspirations, and while the Rays came up short in the series, they showed that they have the talent and ability to compete with the best teams in the league. The Braves, on the other hand, showed that they are a force to be reckoned with in the National League, and they will look to continue their strong play as they aim for a deep playoff run.
