Zach Eflin, Baltimore nearly blank Rays on flappyboi hoodie night - BAL 4, TB 1

Carlson homer the difference between none and something.

For the Rays and their fans this game was more of the same for the 2024 season. Tryouts on the field for 2025, and a trying time for me to keep this game on the screen.

Littel was on the mound and aside from two solo shots only got into trouble once, nearly limiting the damage until a bloop with two on plated both runners. It was enough to let a competitive team put up a fight. Instead the best the Rays could do was avoid a shut out.

And I would be remiss to not mention my favorite moment of the night, Dylan Carlson’s first homerun at Tropicana Field, against one of Baltimore’s four closers. Carlson now has two homers on the season, both in this week of play as a Ray:

Perhaps you’re thinking, hey that’s not what I came to this recap for! Yes, I came here for Zach Eflin! Yes, the man who was traded by the Rays while warming up on the field faced his old team and did not implode.

Please don’t make me talk about anything else in this game.

Yandy Diaz took the day off as the DH and the Rays tried relatively short Brandon Lowe at the position, and he did surprisingly fine, despite only 40 career innings at the position.

Barehanding the ball and missing tonight was Morel at second base instead. Welcome to the Trop buddy! The coconut husks play different. Hmm... Anything else?

Of course I’m just being silly. I know the real reason you’re here.

Indeed, the Rays gave out 12,000 flappy boi zipper hoodies today. So at least 12,000 fans had a good night.