During the Rays bad stretch, it felt as though any deficit was going to be a loss.
As they have left that dismal period behind, we can now feel that getting behind early in the game doesn’t doom the team to defeat.
Tonight’sfirst inning started with both team’s outstanding leadoff hitters (Rays Diaz, Marlins Arraez) singled. But whereas the Rays stranded Diaz, the Marlins proceeded to string together hits to produce a 1-0 lead. Their whole inning seemed to be a “try not to do too much” highlight reel, with each hitter waiting back on Civale’s breaking pitches and then getting just enough on them to manage a single.