Saunders: Rays’ decision to pull Blake Snell in Game 6 was an epic error

Tony Gutierrez, The Associated Press0

I’ve been reading about and listening to various arguments surrounding Game 6 of the World Series.

Defenders of the underdog Tampa Bay Rays are saying that the Rays played it right. That is, they lived and died by the Rays’ way.

Hogwash.

In case you missed it, starter Blake Snell was painting a postseason masterpiece against the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers. Through five innings, Snell had faced just one batter over the minimum and had struck out nine. He had thrown just 69 pitches. He had given up one measly hit — a hard-hit single to Chris Taylor. The Rays led 1-0 on Randy Arozarena’s first-inning home run.

With one out in the sixth, Austin Barnes hit a…