Tampa Bay at Texas

Tampa Bay at Texas

This is Missed It. Tampa Bay at Texas, Sunday, September 6, with the Rays. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's a fresh one here in Texas, as the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Texas Rangers. We're coming off a tough stretch, and we need this one. The Rangers are at home, and they've got the crowd behind them. We've got our guys ready to go, and we're looking to set the tone early. Let's get this one started.

Innings 1-3

Top of the first, and we're off. We send four batters to the plate, and we can't get anything going. No runs, score stays at zero-zero. But it's early, and we're just getting warmed up. Bottom of the first, the Rangers come up, and they send five batters to the plate. But our defense holds, and we keep them off the board. Still zero-zero after one. Top of the second, and this is where it starts to get interesting. No outs, and we've got a runner on. Jonny DeLuca steps in, and he rips a sharp line drive to left field, right at Wyatt Langford. Chandler Simpson moves to second. We've got something brewing here. Then, with one out and two on, Victor Mesa Jr. comes up. He lines one to left, and Chandler Simpson comes flying home. That's a run. Jorge Mateo moves to third. We're up one to nothing, and the dugout is alive. Next up, Nick Fortes. He drops a bunt down the third base line, and it's a beauty. The pitcher, MacKenzie Gore, fields it, but he's got no play. Jorge Mateo scores. Victor Mesa Jr. moves to second. Two to nothing, and we're not done yet. Yandy Díaz steps in with one out and two on. He smokes a line drive to center field, and Ezequiel Duran is chasing it down. Victor Mesa Jr. scores. Nick Fortes moves to third. Three to nothing. We are rolling. That's four runs in the inning, and we sent ten batters to the plate. We're up four to nothing, and the Rangers are reeling. Bottom of the second, and the Rangers answer. No outs, bases empty, and Jake Burger steps in. He gets a hold of one and sends it deep to left center field. That ball is gone. A solo homer. Four to one. We gave one back, but we still have the lead. Top of the third, we send four batters up, and we can't add on. No runs. Bottom of the third, the Rangers send three up and three down. We hold them. After three, it's four to one, and we're in control.

Innings 4-6

Top of the fourth, and we're looking to build on the lead. We send six batters to the plate, and we scratch across one. It's five to one, and we're feeling good. But bottom of the fourth, the Rangers come storming back. No outs, a runner on, and it's Jake Burger again. He gets a pitch he likes and launches it to center field. That ball is gone. Wyatt Langford scores ahead of him. It's a two-run homer, and just like that, it's five to three. The momentum is shifting. The Rangers keep pushing. With two outs, the bases are loaded, and Justin Foscue steps in. He drives a line drive to right field, right at Victor Mesa Jr. Logan O'Hoppe scores. Ezequiel Duran scores. Corey Seager moves to third. It's tied at five. The air has gone out of our side. But then, with two outs and two on, Brandon Nimmo steps in. He lines one to left field, and Chandler Simpson is there. He makes the catch. Inning over. We escape with the tie, but just barely. Top of the fifth, we send three batters up, and we can't get anything going. No runs. Still tied at five. Bottom of the fifth, and the Rangers are back at it. One out, a runner on, and Logan O'Hoppe steps in. He singles on a line drive to right field, and Jake Burger moves to second. They've got something going again. Then, with two outs and two on, Ezequiel Duran steps in. He rips a sharp line drive to right field, and Logan O'Hoppe scores. Elias Díaz moves to second. It's five to seven. We're down by two, and we need to find an answer.

The Sequence

This is where the game gets decided. Top of the sixth, we send three batters up, and we can't score. Bottom of the sixth, the Rangers send four up, and we hold them. Still five to seven. Top of the seventh, and we need a spark. One out, bases empty, and Chandler Simpson steps in. He slaps a ground ball to center field, and he's on. We've got a runner. Then, with one out and a runner on, Jonny DeLuca steps in. He lines one to center field, and Chandler Simpson is off. He scores. Jonny DeLuca moves to second. It's six to seven. We're within one, and the dugout is alive again. Bottom of the seventh, the Rangers send four up, and we hold them. We're still down one, and we're fighting. Top of the eighth, we send four batters up, and we can't push the tying run across. No runs. Still six to seven. Bottom of the eighth, and the Rangers get a big one. No outs, bases empty, and Corey Seager steps in. He gets a pitch and sends it deep to left center field. That ball is gone. A solo homer. It's six to eight, and that one stings. Then, no outs, bases empty, and Nicky Lopez steps in. He doubles on a line drive to center field, and we're in trouble. But we get out of it without any more damage. Top of the ninth, we send three batters up. We need two runs, and we can't get anything going. No runs. The game is over.

Wrap-up

Final score, six to eight. We came back, we fought, we tied it up, and then we couldn't hold on. Corey Seager's homer in the eighth was the dagger. We had our chances, but we just couldn't get that last hit. It's a tough one to swallow, but we'll be back. We always are.

Outro

That was Tampa Bay at Texas, from the Rays side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

Tampa Bay at Texas

This is Missed It. Tampa Bay at Texas, Sunday, September 6, with the Rangers. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

The Tampa Bay Rays are in town, and the Texas Rangers are ready to answer the bell. Two clubs looking to make a statement tonight, and we've got a ballgame on our hands. The Rangers are at home, the crowd is buzzing, and the first pitch is moments away. Let's get into it.

Top 1 — No Runs

The Rays step in to start this one, and MacKenzie Gore is on the mound for us. Four batters come up, and that's all she wrote. No runs, no drama, score stays zero to zero. A clean inning to open the night, and now we get our first look at the plate.

Bot 1 — No Runs

Our turn. Five batters step in against Tampa Bay, and we can't push anything across. A couple of chances, maybe a little traffic on the bases, but nothing comes home. Score remains zero to zero after one full inning. We're still feeling things out, but the energy is there.

Top 2 — Rays Score Four

Here's where it gets interesting. No outs, a runner on, and Jonny DeLuca steps in. He singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Wyatt Langford, and Chandler Simpson moves to second. That's a momentum swing right there, folks. The Rays are putting pressure on early, and we need an answer. One out now, two on. Victor Mesa Jr. comes up and singles on a line drive to left fielder Wyatt Langford. Chandler Simpson scores. Jorge Mateo to third. It's one to nothing, Tampa Bay. That one hurt a little, but we're not done yet. Still one out, two on. Nick Fortes steps in and lays down a bunt ground ball to pitcher MacKenzie Gore. Jorge Mateo scores. Victor Mesa Jr. to second. Two to nothing, Rays. The bunt, of all things. That's the kind of baseball that grinds you down. One out, two on again. Yandy Díaz singles on a line drive to center fielder Ezequiel Duran. Victor Mesa Jr. scores. Nick Fortes to third. Three to nothing now, and the Rays are rolling. Ten batters came up in that half inning, and they pushed four across. We've got work to do.

Bot 2 — Burger Answers

We need a spark, and Jake Burger provides it. No outs, bases empty, and he crushes a homer on a fly ball to left center field. That's a big play, and it cuts the lead to four to one. The crowd finds its voice again. We're on the board.

Top 3 — No Runs

The Rays send four batters up in the third, and we hold them. No runs, no damage. Score stays four to one. We'll take a quiet inning like that.

Bot 3 — No Runs

Three batters for us, and nothing doing. No runs, score still four to one. We're chasing, but the game is far from over.

Top 4 — Rays Add One

Tampa Bay gets another one in the fourth. Six batters come up, one run scores, and it's five to one. That lead feels a little heavier now, but this ballclub has fight in it.

Bot 4 — Rangers Storm Back

This is the half inning we've been waiting for. No outs, a runner on, and Jake Burger steps in again. He homers on a fly ball to center field, and Wyatt Langford scores. Five to three. That's a big play, and suddenly we're right back in it. The inning keeps rolling. Two outs now, bases loaded. Justin Foscue steps in and doubles on a line drive to right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. Logan O'Hoppe scores. Ezequiel Duran scores. Corey Seager to third. Five to five. We've tied it up, folks. Nine batters came up, four runs scored, and this place is rocking. Then, with two outs and two on, Brandon Nimmo lines out to left fielder Chandler Simpson. That's a momentum swing, because we had a chance to take the lead right there. But we're even again, five to five, and that's a win in itself after being down four.

Top 5 — No Runs

Three batters for the Rays, no runs. Score stays five to five. We've got all the momentum now.

Bot 5 — Rangers Take the Lead

One out, a runner on, and Logan O'Hoppe singles on a line drive to right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. Jake Burger to second. That's a momentum swing, and we've got something cooking. Two outs now, two on. Ezequiel Duran steps in and singles on a sharp line drive to right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. Logan O'Hoppe scores. Elias Díaz to second. Five to seven. We've taken the lead, folks. Seven batters came up, two runs scored, and the Rangers are in front for the first time tonight.

The Sequence

This is where the game gets decided. Top of the sixth, three batters for Tampa Bay, no runs. Score stays five to seven. We hold. Bottom of the sixth, four batters for us, no runs. Still five to seven. We're nursing a lead, and every pitch matters now. Top of the seventh, and the Rays aren't going away quietly. One out, bases empty, and Chandler Simpson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Evan Carter. That's a momentum swing, and you can feel the tension tighten. One out, a runner on. Jonny DeLuca singles on a line drive to center fielder Evan Carter. Chandler Simpson scores. Jonny DeLuca to second. Six to seven. The lead is down to one, and we need an answer. Bottom of the seventh, four batters, no runs. Still six to seven. We're holding on by a thread. Top of the eighth, four batters for the Rays, no runs. Six to seven. We get out of it, and now it's our turn to add some insurance. Bottom of the eighth, and Corey Seager steps in with no outs and bases empty. He homers on a fly ball to left center field. Six to eight. That's a big play, and it might be the dagger. Then Nicky Lopez doubles on a line drive to center fielder Jonny DeLuca. A notable play, but we can't bring him home. Still, we've got a two-run lead heading to the ninth. Top of the ninth, three batters for Tampa Bay. No runs. That's the ballgame.

Wrap-up

Final score, Tampa Bay Rays six, Texas Rangers eight. We trailed by four early, stormed back to tie it, took the lead, and then Corey Seager sealed it with a homer in the eighth. This one had everything, and we came out on top. The Rangers win, and that's all that matters tonight.

Outro

That was Tampa Bay at Texas, from the Rangers side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.