\n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","thumbnail_url":null,"type":"oembed","width":550,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":" \n\n \n\nThe Rays and Jays traded runs in the first five innings, then Randal Grichuk hit a tiebreaking homer off Josh Fleming, who pitched six innings after Michael Wacha’s two-inning start to preserve a bullpen that worked a lot the previous two games. That gave Toronto a two-run lead, which Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo trusted Tyler Chatwood to protect.\n\nBut Tampa Bay didn’t lose hope. Considering the Rays had scored 75 runs during the first nine games of their winning streak, why would they? That confidence was evident up and down their lineup during the ninth -- and, Phillips said, before the inning even began.\n\n“We know in that situation all the pressure's on the pitcher to get outs there,” Meadows said. “And I think for us, being on a roll like we have been lately, we knew the pressure wasn't on us. It was on the pitcher on the mound.\"\n\n“Everyone knew we were going to at least put together good at-bats,” Phillips added. “That was the discussion amongst everyone: 'Hey, let's just put together good at-bats. Let's do what we do.'”\n\nAnd so they did. Ji-Man Choi walked to begin the rally, then Brandon Lowe smacked a pinch-hit single to left. Taylor Walls hit a grounder that left runners on the corners for Phillips, who swatted an RBI single to center to make it a one-run game.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2021-05-23T19:46:39.483Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2021/2021-05/23/cc8d8d36-455340f8-b3173f7c-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","type":"video","description":"Brett Phillips pulls the Rays to within a run, as he singles to bring in Ji-Man Choi in the top of the 9th","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:32","slug":"tyler-chatwood-in-play-run-s-to-brett-phillips","tags":[{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"season-2021","title":"Season 2021","type":"season"},{"__typename":"GameTag"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-621433","title":"Brett Phillips","person":{"__ref":"Person:621433"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-139","title":"Tampa Bay Rays","team":{"__ref":"Team:139"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"hitting","title":"hitting","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"in-game-highlight","title":"in-game highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"eclat-feed","title":"Eclat feed","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"international-feed","title":"International Partner feed","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"1-yahoo-fantasy-feed","title":"1-Yahoo Fantasy Feed","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"yahoo-fantasy","title":"Yahoo Fantasy","type":"taxonomy"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/r1ddiu3a9kfg9au8loge"},"title":"Brett Phillips' RBI single","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/tyler-chatwood-in-play-run-s-to-brett-phillips"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":" \n\n \n\n“We just had great at-bat after great at-bat,” manager Kevin Cash said.\n\nRandy Arozarena hit a fly ball to right field for the second out, then Yandy Díaz walked on four straight pitches to load the bases and chase Chatwood. Montoyo had the lefty Bergen warming up specifically to face Meadows, so in came Bergen, and up came Meadows. Meadows may have received a little help from the rookie Walls, who feigned taking off from third base and forced Bergen to step off the mound several times.\n\n“I feel like little things like that can always get in the pitcher's head on the mound,” Meadows said. “Just small things like that, you never know if that's something that contributed to the pitcher on the mound, so that was good by him.”\n\nBergen’s plan was quite clear, as he threw eight consecutive fastballs at, above or just below the top of the strike zone. Meadows worked the count full then fouled off three straight fastballs, spoiling borderline pitches to stay alive. Meadows saw Bergen’s ninth fastball well. It was obviously outside, clearly ball four, so Meadows took it to tie the game.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2021-05-23T19:58:47.197Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2021/2021-05/23/4f79e57b-6afc8151-0e1d0cc9-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","type":"video","description":"Austin Meadows draws a two-out walk with the bases loaded to tie the game in the top of the 9th","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:21","slug":"austin-meadows-walks-taylor-walls-scores-brett-phillips-to-3rd-yandy-diaz","tags":[{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"season-2021","title":"Season 2021","type":"season"},{"__typename":"GameTag"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-640457","title":"Austin Meadows","person":{"__ref":"Person:640457"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-139","title":"Tampa Bay Rays","team":{"__ref":"Team:139"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"hitting","title":"hitting","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"in-game-highlight","title":"in-game highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"international-feed","title":"International Partner feed","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"eclat-feed","title":"Eclat feed","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"yahoo-fantasy","title":"Yahoo Fantasy","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"1-yahoo-fantasy-feed","title":"1-Yahoo Fantasy Feed","type":"taxonomy"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/sqde4c2babre2xbb64hw"},"title":"Austin Meadows' game-tying walk","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/austin-meadows-walks-taylor-walls-scores-brett-phillips-to-3rd-yandy-diaz"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":" \n\n\"They’re hot right now,” Montoyo said, “and that’s how it goes.”\n\nWith Bergen unable to leave the game due to the three-batter-minimum rule, he had to stay in to face right-handed hitters Manuel Margot and Mike Brosseau. 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And then after that, it seemed like everybody followed suit,” Cash said. “We put a lot of pressure, got guys on base to allow that to happen, and then I think some of our experience helped us right there with laying off some close pitches.”\n\nAs Cash spoke to reporters on a Zoom call after the game, players were still celebrating in the clubhouse. “They’re having a good time right now,” the manager said, “and they should be.” They haven’t lost a game since May 12. They’re firing on all cylinders and hotter than any other team in the Majors.\n\nWhen a team’s rolling like this, winning 10 in a row, there’s a lot to feel good about, right?\n\n“Yeah,” Phillips said. “But 11 would feel better.”","type":"text"}],"relativeSiteUrl":"/news/manuel-margot-go-ahead-walk-rays-win-10th-straight","contentType":"news","subHeadline":"Tampa Bay capitalizes on wild Toronto bullpen to rally for 10th win in a row","summary":"Over the last 11 days, the Rays have won in just about every way imaginable. 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Down 2 in 9th? Red-hot Rays' streak hits 10
Down 2 in 9th? Red-hot Rays' streak hits 10
Tampa Bay capitalizes on wild Toronto bullpen to rally for 10th win in a row
Over the last 11 days, the Rays have won in just about every way imaginable. They’ve emerged victorious in slugfests and well-pitched games. They’ve won comfortably quite a bit and earned hard-fought wins. They’ve jumped out to big leads, come back from multiple-run deficits and walked off winners.
So when they entered the ninth inning trailing by two runs on Sunday afternoon, there was no concern in the Rays’ dugout. Only confidence.
“You feed off that energy. Everyone was just like, 'We're good,’” Brett Phillips said. “And that's a testament to the guys we have in this locker room.”
Then the Rays went out and extended their Major League-best winning streak to 10 games in a particularly wild way. Tampa Bay staged a ninth-inning comeback capped by four consecutive walks, including three with the bases loaded, and held on to win, 6-4, at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla.
The Rays’ 10-game winning streak is the second longest in franchise history, behind only a 12-game run from June 9-22, 2004. They’ve come from behind in six of those games and battled back from being down by two runs or more in five of them -- including Sunday’s dramatic finish. And now they’re tied with the Red Sox atop the American League East standings, with a share of the AL’s best record.
“Regardless of us being down or not, we know something's going to happen just with the roll that we've been on,” said Austin Meadows, who worked the game-tying walk off reliever Travis Bergen. “I felt like we were in the driver's seat, honestly. It could be the win streak or just with the confidence that we have right now.”
The Rays and Jays traded runs in the first five innings, then Randal Grichuk hit a tiebreaking homer off Josh Fleming, who pitched six innings after Michael Wacha’s two-inning start to preserve a bullpen that worked a lot the previous two games. That gave Toronto a two-run lead, which Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo trusted Tyler Chatwood to protect.
But Tampa Bay didn’t lose hope. Considering the Rays had scored 75 runs during the first nine games of their winning streak, why would they? That confidence was evident up and down their lineup during the ninth -- and, Phillips said, before the inning even began.
“We know in that situation all the pressure's on the pitcher to get outs there,” Meadows said. “And I think for us, being on a roll like we have been lately, we knew the pressure wasn't on us. It was on the pitcher on the mound."
“Everyone knew we were going to at least put together good at-bats,” Phillips added. “That was the discussion amongst everyone: 'Hey, let's just put together good at-bats. Let's do what we do.'”
And so they did. Ji-Man Choi walked to begin the rally, then Brandon Lowe smacked a pinch-hit single to left. Taylor Walls hit a grounder that left runners on the corners for Phillips, who swatted an RBI single to center to make it a one-run game.
“We just had great at-bat after great at-bat,” manager Kevin Cash said.
Randy Arozarena hit a fly ball to right field for the second out, then Yandy Díaz walked on four straight pitches to load the bases and chase Chatwood. Montoyo had the lefty Bergen warming up specifically to face Meadows, so in came Bergen, and up came Meadows. Meadows may have received a little help from the rookie Walls, who feigned taking off from third base and forced Bergen to step off the mound several times.
“I feel like little things like that can always get in the pitcher's head on the mound,” Meadows said. “Just small things like that, you never know if that's something that contributed to the pitcher on the mound, so that was good by him.”
Bergen’s plan was quite clear, as he threw eight consecutive fastballs at, above or just below the top of the strike zone. Meadows worked the count full then fouled off three straight fastballs, spoiling borderline pitches to stay alive. Meadows saw Bergen’s ninth fastball well. It was obviously outside, clearly ball four, so Meadows took it to tie the game.
"They’re hot right now,” Montoyo said, “and that’s how it goes.”
With Bergen unable to leave the game due to the three-batter-minimum rule, he had to stay in to face right-handed hitters Manuel Margot and Mike Brosseau. They put the Rays ahead without taking a single swing, as Margot drew another bases-loaded walk on five pitches and Brosseau took four straight pitches to make it a four-run inning.
“Austin Meadows, his at-bat was just remarkable. And then after that, it seemed like everybody followed suit,” Cash said. “We put a lot of pressure, got guys on base to allow that to happen, and then I think some of our experience helped us right there with laying off some close pitches.”
As Cash spoke to reporters on a Zoom call after the game, players were still celebrating in the clubhouse. “They’re having a good time right now,” the manager said, “and they should be.” They haven’t lost a game since May 12. They’re firing on all cylinders and hotter than any other team in the Majors.
When a team’s rolling like this, winning 10 in a row, there’s a lot to feel good about, right?
“Yeah,” Phillips said. “But 11 would feel better.”