You may have noticed that the Rays have had some trouble holding leads lately. They’ve scored plenty of runs early, but in the latter parts of games the bats have gone cold, the starting pitching and the defense has faltered, and the bullpen has left plenty to be desired.
So obviously the surefire fix was to blow up the whole early/late construct. There is no late lead. We are all a late lead. Can’t fail. Didn’t fail.
Erasmo Ramirez was scheduled to start, but with off-and-on rain in the forecast, Kevin Cash didn’t want to have his starter’s night cut short by a rain delay.