Rays team up to beat Mets again behind big fourth inning

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Jun 14, 2025

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — The Rays cobbled together a big inning for the second straight game, scoring five runs in the fourth to beat the Mets again, this time 8-4.

Shortstop Taylor Walls had a big role in the win, delivering two doubles and dropping a squeeze bunt in the middle of the fourth-inning outburst.

The Rays improved to 38-32, moving to a season-high-matching six games over .500 in winning for the eighth time in their last 11 games and 17th in 23. They also improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight series.

Drew Rasmussen got the win, though by his lofty standards, had somewhat of an off-day, allowing a season-high-matching four runs, including two homers, over five innings.

In Friday’s 7-5 win, the Rays combined for five singles, a run-scoring groundout and a two-run homer into a six-run sixth inning.

Saturday’s five-run, fourth-inning outburst was a bit more creative.

They got a Junior Caminero home run, three singles, two walks, a hit batter, a run-scoring wild pitch and a squeeze bunt by Walls that the Mets misplayed.

The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the third when Walls doubled off starter Tylor Megill and Josh Lowe singled him in.

The lead didn’t last as Rasmussen, who in his last outing allowed his first runs after four scoreless starts, gave up a home run — to Brett Baty — for the first time since May 11. A Francisco Lindor double and and Brandon Nimmo single gave the Mets a 2-1 lead.

The Rays have prided themselves on the diversity of their offense, and they showed that off in the fourth inning, scoring five runs while sending 11 men to the plate.

Caminero, who was hitless in his previous 17 at-bats, led off with a searing homer to left-center, hit at 109.2 mph and carrying 409 feet.

The Rays had runners on third and first after Jake Mangum was hit by a Megill pitch and Matt Thaiss singled, which an out later set up Walls’ squeeze bunt, which he placed well, pushing it toward first base allowing Mangum to score. Even better for the Rays, Megill scooped it up but couldn’t make the throw to first.

A bloop single by Brandon Lowe and a well-struck one by Yandy Diaz made it 5-2. Jonathan Aranda’s walk loaded the bases, and Megill’s wild pitch allowed Lowe to come home.

The Rays tacked on another run as Walls rapped his second double, scoring Thais to make it 6-2.

The Mets rallied for two runs off Rasmussen in their fifth, with Ronny Mauricio homering and Nimmo singling in Lindor.

The Rays got one back in their sixth when Brandon Lowe reached on an error and Diaz laced a triple. Diaz then tried to score on a wild pitch, but was thrown out at home.

The start of the game delayed 51 minutes due to rain.