Pete Fairbanks Closes Out Win on Bullpen Day, Rays Win Rubber Game 2-1 Over Reds at The Trop

St. Petersburg, FL – The Tampa Bay Rays scored the tying run in the eighth inning on a strike out wild pitch to Amed Rosario with the bases loaded. They then scored the go-ahead run on a bases loaded Richie Palacios walk to take a 2-1 lead. Pete Fairbanks came in in the ninth inning to close it out and preserve the Rays 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Garrett Cleavinger (7-2, 3.21 ERA) picks up the win as the Rays improve to 54-52. They earned their 10th consecutive rubber game win, extending a franchise record. Fairbanks, the sixth Rays pitcher on the day, earned his 20th save.

Fernando Cruz (3-8, 4.81 ERA) takes the loss for the Reds, who move to 50-55. It is the Reds’ second straight series loss at Tropicana Field, dating back to June 19-21, 2017. They have lost four of their last five series against the Rays.

Tampa Bay couldn’t generate any offense against Reds starter Hunter Greene, who drove in seven scoreless runs, struck out five and walked one, while allowing one hit. He also hit two batters,

The Rays came back in Cruz’s eighth inning, prompting Brandon Lowe to say after the game, “It’s good we go nine innings.”

Tampa Bay originally had Tyler Alexander scheduled to work bulk innings behind opener Shawn Armstrong. The Reds, expecting the southpaw, loaded the lineup with right-handed batters.

With the day off on Monday, manager Kevin Cash opted to go heavy with his right-handed relievers despite being short Jason Adam, who was sent to the Padres before the game. After Armstrong worked the first two innings, Edwin Uceta worked a pair of scoreless innings, Manny Rodriguez worked a scoreless one and Tyler Zuber worked a pair of scoreless ones of his own. Garret Cleavinger worked a scoreless eighth inning and Fairbanks closed it out in the ninth.