TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays managed to end a seven-game losing streak at home by defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Friday night. The victory was sealed when Taylor Walls earned a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning.
The game saw Brandon Lowe hitting a determined home run off Brewers’ left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana. Despite Lowe’s struggles against left-handed pitchers this season, he made a significant impact by helping the Rays while they have been performing temporarily at Steinbrenner Field, where they have faced tough times, losing 11 of their last 12 games.
An on-field flare-up occurred in the sixth inning as Brewers manager Pat Murphy was ejected. This followed a controversial decision where Caleb Durbin, the third baseman, was penalized for obstruction. As a result, Christopher Morel, trapped in a rundown between third and home plate, was allowed to score, giving the Rays a narrow 3-2 advantage.
The Brewers rallied when Rhys Hoskins delivered an RBI single against pitcher Cole Sulser in the eighth inning, leveling the game at 3-3. However, in the bottom half, Jared Koenig allowed two hits and walked two batters, ultimately leading to the game’s turning point. Reliever Eric Orze then closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning, securing his second save of the season.
Notably, William Contreras returned to the lineup after missing a game due to a fractured finger on his catching hand. Brewers coaches modified his batting grips to help him play despite the injury, which paid off as Contreras achieved an RBI single in the first inning.
A pivotal play unfolded when José Caballero of the Rays hit a single to center field, which Jackson Chourio, a promising 21-year-old, mishandled for his first career error. This mistake allowed Walls to score from first base, equalizing the game at 1-1 during the third inning.
On the mound, Quintana managed 5 1/3 innings, reaching a personal milestone with 2,003 2/3 innings under his belt. He joins an elite group of active pitchers such as Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Charlie Morton, and Chris Sale, who have surpassed 2,000 innings in their careers.
Looking ahead, the Brewers are set to start right-hander Tobias Myers on Saturday, with a 1-0 record and a 3.65 ERA. The Rays will counter with right-hander Taj Bradley, holding a 3-2 record and a 4.43 ERA.