Braves Struggles Continue After Dropping Series Against the Rays
At Steinbrenner Field, the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Atlanta Braves 8–3 to secure the series win. Joe Boyle, the Rays' starter, earned his first victory of the season with a strong effort that included five no-hit innings, seven strikeouts, and two unearned runs allowed. Junior Caminero led the effort offensively, going two for four and hitting a game-winning three-run homer in the eighth inning. With a solo home run in the opening inning, Yandy Díaz helped set the tone for Tampa Bay right away.
The Braves only managed one hit during the game due to their offensive struggles. After giving up four runs, with three being earned on six hits in four and a half innings, Atlanta's Chris Sale took the loss. Despite a three-run sixth inning in which Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies both drove in a run, the Rays' lead proved too great to overcome. This was a very upsetting game for the Braves, based on how they played.
At the end of the first inning, the Braves trailed 2-0 to the Rays after struggling to make contact. The second and third innings were pretty quiet and didn’t have much action. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Coco Montes got an RBI single, which brought the Rays up 3-0. In the top of the fifth inning, Rays center fielder Jake Mangum made a phenomenal sliding catch.
In the top of the sixth inning, Michael Harris II got the Braves on the board, making the score 4-1. Olson then got an RBI single, bringing it to 4-2. Wrapping up the sixth inning, the Rays scored four more runs, bringing the score to 8-3. Caminero got a three-run home run, which was a perfect way for them to up the Braves. Taylor Walls made a double play in the ninth inning to end the game.
After this series, the Braves record is now 4-11, with their road record being 1-9 as their early season struggles continue. The Braves will face the Toronto Blue Jays for their next three-game series in Toronto. They’re looking to win this series and to bring their record up. The first pitch for tomorrow night's game will be at 7:07 p.m. ET.
