MOSQUITO > Rays Deadlock Royals 5-5


THE DEVILISH RAYS STAGE A DRAMATIC THREE RUN RALLY IN THE FINAL INNING TO TIE UP THE MAJESTIC ROYALS IN THEIR OPENING ROUND ROBIN GAME TOURNAMENT GAME AT TRINITY-BELLWOODS PARK

Rays closer Liam (7) preserved a 5-5 tie by striking out three Royals in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Beneath a genteel ceiling of late summer skies, the Rays and Royals played to a 5-5 draw in four innings of Mosquito Division Round Robin Tournament action this evening at Trinity-Bellwoods Park Diamond 2.

Jake (12) delivered a home run blast in the top of the fourth frame to spark a Rays three run rally to tie the Royals 5-5.

Here is a Rays recap of the proceedings courtesy of Roe Sivanandan:

  • The Royals hosted the Rays on Tuesday evening at Trinity Bellwoods Park for Game 1 of the round robin portion of the 2017 Mosquito Division Tournament .
  • The affair for the most part was a pitcher’s duel, with some clutch hitting and defensive plays sprinkled into the mixture.
  • There were also some major league-like close plays, where the umpires did a great job that deserve recognition.
  • With all fifteen Rays players on hand, there was a mingle of nervous energy and excitement in the dugout on the opening day of tournament play.
  • In the top of the first, the Royals starter was on fire, with three strikeouts to blank the Rays. The Rays sole hit came off the bat of Jake (12).
  • Rays starter Charlie Z. (5) solid bottom of the first as he held the Royals to only two runs.
  • With the Rays threatening to score big in the top of the second, the Royals bullpen rose to the occasion to quell the Devil Ray uprising. With no outs and runners at third and second, Jonas (13)  popped a fly ball to second base. With a Rays baserunner leading off the second base (to see if the ball would drop in for a hit), the Royals second baseman caught the ball while standing on second base to double up the Rays and preserve their 2-0 lead.
  • In the bottom of the second, Rays reliever Jonas (13) pitched a much need shutout inning to keep the Royals off the scoring ledger and in the throne room. In addition, Jonas also made the defensive play of the game for the Rays. With a baserunner on first, Jonas caught a screaming line drive hit straight back at him to register the an out. Afterwards, he threw the ball to his first baseman to double up a wayfaring Royals baserunner who was halfway to second.
  • The Rays showed tremendous patience at the plate in the top half of the third against a good Royals pitcher to score two runs on a series of walks and steals to tie the game 2-2.
  • However, in the bottom of the third, the Royals answered back with some walks and manufactured some runs on steals to take the lead 5-2 against Rays reliever Jake (12).
  • Now came the big top of the fourth for the Rays! After Jake led off the inning with a HOME RUN to the centre field, the Rays scored three to tie the game at 5-5.
  • With Royals winning run on base, Rays reliever Liam (7) closed the game in the bottom of the fourth with three strikeouts to secure a tie for the Rays at 5-5.