WATCH: “This team sucks,” Houston Astros DESTROY Tampa Bay Rays in 17-4 blowout win, MLB Twitter reacts
The Tampa Bay Rays have found themselves in a vulnerable position following their red hot star. They were crushed 17-4 by the Houston Astros on Saturday, signaling their poor form.
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Tampa Bay Rays in the loss against Houston Astros (Pic Credit: DRaysBay)
It seems like an eternity when the Tampa Bay Rays were running away. The 2020 American League champions started the season in spectacular fashion, winning their first 13 games. Since then their form has dipped considerably and were blown apart by the reigning World champions, Houston Astros, 17-4 on Saturday.
The Astros like some huge names, have failed to live up to their expectations. This along with the emergence of the Texas Rangers has made things difficult for them in the AL West. They came into this game, having lost the series opener 4-3. This time there were no such close calls as their batters came up hot against a Rays’ side struggling to get back to their original run of form.
Rookie Jeremy Pena recorded his career-high four RBIs as both Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez went deep. Meanwhile, Jose Abreu and Yandy Diaz both cashed in three runs apiece as the team stream-rolled over the Rays. With the game beyond their reach, Rays manager Kevin Cash decided to give their catcher, Rene Pinto, a first career pitching appearance.
It is normal for coaches to give their out-of-position players, the ball to pitch, to save the strength of their bullpen for another game. The move did not exactly bring any changes to their fortune as the Astros extended their lead while he was throwing out 50 mph slow balls.
Related: WATCH: Taylor Ward gets accidentally THUMPED on face through pitch by Alek Manoah against Blue Jays
Twitter reacts as Rays get thumped up by Astros
While winning and losing is a part of the game, getting absolutely destroyed is something no one wants to experience. The Rays might say that they gave up later on as the damage was already done, but the scoreline reads something else. Such a huge scoreline does not flatter the winners but does incredible moral damage to the losers.
The Rays were torn apart by the opponents in this game. Following this defeat, the Rays are now 16-21 in their last 41 games. At one point of the season, they were 30-9. It was assumed back then that things could go drastically wrong for them and so it has been. Twitter though spares no one and was not shy at taking a dig at the Rays. Here are a few reactions reacting to this crushing defeat.
With the series now level, the two will enter Sunday trying to take the final match. A win at this stage for either of them will be crucial as both sides find themselves chasing the leaders of their respective divisions. It could be likely that one of these teams misses out on the qualification for the postseason due to the intense tightness in the race this year.
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Vinay Dave
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