The Rays lost 4-1 to the Orioles on June 20, but the game was overshadowed when Hunter Bigge was struck by a foul ball. Read about the scary scene.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day that started with the promise of a hard-fought series finale and ended with the entire ballpark holding its breath. While the Tampa Bay Rays ultimately dropped the game 4-1 to the Baltimore Orioles, the final score felt secondary after a terrifying moment in the seventh inning saw pitcher Hunter Bigge struck by a foul ball in the dugout, leading to a lengthy delay and his eventual departure on a stretcher.
Yandy Diaz extended his hitting streak to 10 games, providing a small silver lining on an otherwise difficult day.
The game came to a standstill in the seventh inning when a sharp foul ball off the bat of Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman rocketed into the Rays' dugout, striking pitcher Hunter Bigge. The scene was immediately serious, as emergency personnel rushed to attend to Bigge, who was already on the injured list with a lat strain. After a tense nine-minute delay, Bigge was carefully placed on a backboard and carted off the field. In a moment of incredible toughness that brought a wave of relief to the crowd, he managed to give a thumbs-up as he was taken for further evaluation. It was a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers of the game, and the team's thoughts are squarely with their teammate.
On the diamond, the game was a tight contest until the sixth inning. Drew Rasmussen pitched solidly but took the loss, allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings. The decisive blow came from Baltimore's Colton Cowser, who launched a three-run homer off reliever Edwin Uceta, breaking a 1-1 tie and sealing the Rays' fate. On the other side, veteran Charlie Morton was masterful in his 400th MLB appearance, holding the Rays to just one run and striking out seven over six innings. The lone offensive bright spot for Tampa Bay was the ever-reliable Yandy Diaz, who continued his tear with a double and a single to extend his hitting streak to an impressive 10 games.
Despite the tough loss and the concern for Bigge, the Rays must quickly turn the page as they sit second in the AL East. They'll open a crucial three-game series against the Detroit Tigers next. Shane Baz (6-3, 4.54 ERA) gets the ball, hoping to set a positive tone against Detroit's Jack Flaherty (5-7, 4.03 ERA). While the present has its challenges, the future remains incredibly bright. The Rays' farm system, widely regarded as one of baseball's deepest, continues to churn out talent. Senior director of player development Blake Butera recently praised the cohesiveness of the group, which has successfully integrated 13 new prospects since last year.
Friday was a difficult day at the ballpark, marked by a tough loss and a scary injury. Now, the Rays will need to regroup, both emotionally and competitively. With Shane Baz ready to take the mound against the Tigers and the continued excellence of Yandy Diaz at the plate, the team has a chance to wash away the sour taste of this loss and get back to their winning ways. Here's to a speedy recovery for Hunter Bigge and a strong series against Detroit.
