2024 Sunburst Awards: Atlanta Braves games 70-72

Rays fall to 34-38 after three game series at Truist Park

“Sunburst Awards” is a series-by-series evaluation of player performance, where four different awards are given out after each series: Offensive player of the series, defensive player of the series, pitcher of the series, and highlight play of the series. This edition will be covering the 22nd series of the season, where the Tampa Bay Rays took on the Chicago Cubs from June 11 to June 13, a three game series at Tropicana Field.

Rays look to build momentum against Atlanta following a series victory against Chicago.

Game 1: Rays - 3 Braves - 7 (recap)

Game 2: Rays - 2 Braves - 9 (recap)

Game 3: Rays - 8 Braves - 6 (recap)

Offensive Sunburst Award: Jose Siri

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Siri had a nice weekend series in Atlanta, racking up five, four runs, an RBI, and a walk. The eccentric outfielder gave us more fun celebrations with his clutch two-run homer in the ninth inning of game three to give the Rays an 8-6 lead.

The 28-year-old now has 10 Sunburst Awards, leading the ballclub by a wide margin.

Pitching Sunburst Award: Kevin Kelly? I guess?

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

This was not a particularly impressive performance on the mound for the Rays, however Kelly put up two good performances in games one and three of this series, combining for 1 ¹⁄₃ innings allowing no runs and no hits, with a strikeout to go along with it.

It’s not much, but seeing as he won the award this weekend, that should tell you how abysmal the pitching was in Atlanta.

Defensive Sunburst Award: Richie Palacios

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Palacios wins this editions Defensive Sunburst with his impressive leaping catch in the sixth inning of game two.

What looked to be another big hit in a hard-to-watch game two ended up turning into Palacios climbing up the wall and flashing his leather with an impressive catch to end the inning.

Palacios now has five Sunbursts on the season, the most on the Rays in that category.

Highlight Sunburst Award: Ben Rortvedt

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Rortvedt earns his first Highlight Sunburst with his electric grand slam to put the Rays ahead in game three.

His 359 footer just found it’s way fair down the right field line, leading to an 8-6 victory.

Conclusion

The Rays follow up this series with another road matchup, heading up north to take on the Minnesota Twins for a three game series starting Tuesday at 7:40