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Marc Topkin’s takeaways from Rays’ 2-1 win Saturday over Yankees

On a win that was really big; Emilio Pagan’s low-key success; Blake Snell’s obvious frustration.
 
Starter Blake Snell gives the Rays six innings, giving up just one run on six hits and striking out nine against the Yankees on Saturday, May 18, 2019. [JIM McISAAC   |   Associated Press]
Starter Blake Snell gives the Rays six innings, giving up just one run on six hits and striking out nine against the Yankees on Saturday, May 18, 2019. [JIM McISAAC | Associated Press]
Published May 18, 2019|Updated May 19, 2019

• How big was Saturday’s win? In the context of being Game No. 43 of 162, it being mid-May, and the consequence of dropping 1½ games behind the Yankees, not very. But in a sense of the mental toll of being walked off on back-to-back days, in a stadium where they had lost 30 of 41, many when leading, that made it rather significant.

• Emilio Pagan doesn’t have the high-octane stuff of bullpen mates Jose Alvarado or Diego Castillo. Or the funky delivery of Adam Kolarek. Or the wild look of Chaz Roe or Hunter Wood. But what he does have is a 0.61 ERA, allowing one run over 14 appearances. Pretty good for a guy who didn’t make the opening-day roster.

• Blake Snell’s frustration at himself was obvious Saturday, as he didn’t have his best fastball and was making due with an assortment of breaking stuff. But even more so when he fielded a slow roller in the sixth inning, threw well wide of first base, then tossed his glove back toward the mound.