/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-wordpress-client-uploads/tbt/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/18201421/SP_416005_HERN_21_sp_rays041.jpg "Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jose Alvarado (46) throws during the eighth inning. (MONICA HERNDON | Times)")
Alex Colome's ninth-inning dramatics took the focus, but the work of newly corn-rowed RHP Chaz Roe in the seventh (three Ks) and LHP Jose Alvarado (one K, two infield outs) was textbook, and showed how the bullpen can work.
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Not sure where this would rank on the list of surprises, but Wednesday's outing by RHP Jake Faria was only the MLB-low third quality start — six or more innings, three or fewer runs — by the Rays. And none are by Chris Archer.
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For a guy the Rays really didn't want and aren't quite sure how to use, veteran OF Denard Span has been valuable. The seventh-inning insurance run he delivered was his team-high 11th RBI despite having only 44 at-bats, seventh most on the team.
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