Rays 7, Braves 5: Rally in the Raindrops

Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images The Rays enjoyed some soggy meatloaf as they played through the raindrops and rallied to steal a Sunday matinee from the Braves by a score of 7-5. The win pulled the Rays temporarily within a game of the Red Sox for first place in the AL East, pending tonight’s Red Sox-Yankees tilt.

Rich Hill got the start against old friend Drew Smyly.

Hill worked the front four, pitching his way in and out (and sometimes not out) of trouble. He gave up six hits, walked two, and struck out four. A lot of the hits were well placed soft contact.

In the bottom of the first, Joc Pederson led off with a walk. A soft bunt lineout and a force play by Freeman set it up for…