Rays Lose 3-2 on Walkoff Wild Pitch by Pete Fairbanks
ARLINGTON, Texas — Shane McClanahan’s return from the injured list was mostly dazzling, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays suffered a 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night due to a walkoff wild pitch by closer Pete Fairbanks.
Despite McClanahan’s encouraging performance, it was the disappointing ending that overshadowed the game. With two outs and a man on third, Fairbanks threw a 100.4-mph fastball that veered wide of the plate and past catcher Christian Bethancourt, allowing Josh Smith to score the winning run.
Fairbanks expressed his frustration, stating, “It was yanked — it felt like it came out of my hand real hot and unfortunately not near the strike zone. Tough way to lose. Tough way to try and skirt the danger and put yourself in a spot to escape, and then try and do too much and have it end like that.”
Manager Kevin Cash defended Bethancourt, insisting there was nothing the catcher could have done differently. Cash praised Fairbanks for his performance leading up to the wild pitch but acknowledged that he may have been too aggressive in his attempt to overpower the batter.
The loss extended the Rays’ record to 31-30 since their impressive 29-7 start. However, they still maintain sole possession of first place in the American League East at 60-37, while the Orioles, who were trailing by a game, also suffered a loss.
The game initially looked promising for the Rays, with Yandy Diaz, returning to the lineup as a new father, scoring a run. Josh Lowe added a home run in the second inning and took satisfaction in running past his older brother Nathaniel while exchanging some brotherly banter.
McClanahan, pitching for the first time since June 30 due to back tightness, was in control throughout the game. He allowed a leadoff single but quickly recovered and retired the next 14 batters in a row. McClanahan struck out six without walking any batters, showcasing his arsenal of pitches.
Despite the loss, McClanahan expressed satisfaction with his performance, saying, “It felt good to feel like myself again. I feel like I have a lot of good stuff to work off of.”
This loss marked only the fourth time in 26 seasons that the Rays lost on a walkoff wild pitch, and the first time since 2009. Manager Kevin Cash acknowledged the unusual nature of the defeat but admitted that losing is still disappointing in any fashion.
The Rays will look to bounce back from their heartbreaking loss as they continue to compete for first place in the American League East.