Chandler Simpson brings necessary energy and passion to the game, and to open up the second half has been trusted as the leadoff bat in each of these games against the Orioles. The role might be a platoon one, with Yandy Diaz slotting from third up to his historical role of first in the order against south paws, but to see him out there the Rays might have finally captured lightning in a bottle.
Indeed, Simpson was the star of the show, battling through a tough at bat against reliever Seranthony Dominguez in the eighth inning in a tie game before dropping his bat and squaring up a change to lace it up the middle and put the Rays in the lead: