AL Wild Card Series: Rays-Rangers Game 1 live updates

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The Rays’ hitting woes carried over from last postseason, and their defense abandoned them in a 4-0 loss to the Rangers Tuesday in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay, which won 99 regular-season games while finishing second to Baltimore in the AL East, now faces possible elimination in the best-of-three series in Game 2 Wednesday at the Trop.

The Rays, limited to just one run and nine hits while being swept by the Guardians in last season’s wild-card round, were held scoreless on just six hits Tuesday. Randy Arozarena and Taylor Walls had two hits apiece.

Starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow allowed four runs on six hits over five innings, striking out eight. He was his own worst enemy at times, allowing a run to score on a wild pitch in the fifth and walking the first two batters of the sixth, both of whom came around to score.

He didn’t get any help from his fielders, either, as the Rays committed a franchise postseason-record four errors, including a throwing error by centerfielder Jose Siri that allowed another run to score.

Rangers starter Jordan Montgomery was dominant in throwing seven scoreless innings. He struck out five while allowing six hits and no walks.

Josh Jung started the scoring in the second, driving home Nathaniel Lowe with a sacrifice fly to right. Lowe led off the inning with a single and moved to third on Leody Taveras’ single past a lunging Yandy Diaz down the rightfield line.

The Rays had a chance to tie in their half of the second after Curtis Mead and Taylor Walls singled, putting runners at the corners with one out. But Montgomery made a diving catch of a bunt that Siri popped into the air, and Rene Pinto struck out to end the threat.

After allowing Corey Seager to score from third on a wild pitch, putting Texas ahead 2-0 in the fifth, Glasnow escaped further damage. With the bases loaded and just one out, he struck out Taveras and Jung on breaking balls.

The Rangers added two more runs in the sixth.

Glasnow walked Evan Carter and Marcus Semien before being lifted after throwing 98 pitches. Seager then singled to center off Chris Devenski to score Carter. Semien also came around to score, on Siri’s wild throw to third base.

Rays top prospect Junior Caminero made his first postseason at-bat, striking out as a pinch hitter in the seventh.

Here’s how it happened:

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Ninth inning

(Rangers at bat, Andrew Kittredge pitching)

Nathaniel Lowe grounds out to pitcher Andrew Kittredge

Jonah Heim flies out to leftfielder Randy Arozarena

Leody Taveras reaches on an infield single, beating second baseman Curtis Mead’s weak throw to first

Josh Jung strikes out swinging on an 88.7 mph slider

(Rays at bat, Jose Leclerc pitching)

Isaac Paredes pops out to shortstop Corey Seager

Jonathan Aranda, pinch-hitting for Curtis Mead, strikes out swinging on a 90.8 mph changeup

Josh Lowe, pinch-hitting for Manuel Margot, draws a walk

Taylor Walls flies out to centerfielder Leody Taveras

(Rangers win 4-0, lead series 1-0)

Eighth inning

(Rangers at bat, Jake Diekman pitching)

Evan Carter doubles down the rightfield line off the glove of first baseman Yandy Diaz

Marcus Semien pops out to rightfielder Manuel Margot

Corey Seager draws a walk

Robbie Grossman strikes out swinging on a 96.2 mph fastball

Adolis Garcia strikes out swinging on a 96.6 mph fastball

(Rays at bat, Aroldis Chapman pitching)

Yandy Diaz grounds out to shortstop Corey Seager

Randy Arozarena strikes out swinging on a 100.8 mph sinker

Harold Ramirez gounds out to shortstop Corey Seager

(Rangers lead 4-0 after eight innings)

Seventh inning

(Rangers at bat, Chris Devenski pitching)

Jonah Heim grounds out to second baseman Curtis Mead

Leody Taveras lines out to leftfielder Randy Arozarena

Josh Jung grounds out to shortstop Taylor Walls

(Rays at bat, Jordan Montgomery pitching)

Manuel Margot lines out to third baseman Josh Jung

Taylor Walls lifts a single into centerfield

Jose Siri pops out to leftfielder Evan Carter

Junior Caminero, pinch-hitting for Rene Pinto, strikes out swinging on an 80.5 mph curveball

(Rangers lead 4-0 after seven innings)

Sixth inning

(Rangers at bat, Tyler Glasnow pitching)

Evan Carter draws a walk

Marcus Semien draws a walk, putting runners at first and second with no outs

(Chris Devenski replaces Glasnow, who threw 98 pitches)

Corey Seager singles to centerfield, driving home Carter. Semien scores and Seager moves to third on centerfielder Jose Siri’s throwing error, the Rays’ franchise-record fourth error of the game

Robbie Grossman flies out to leftfielder Randy Arozarena

Adolis Garcia grounds out to third baseman Isaac Paredes

Nathaniel Lowe grounds out to first baseman Yandy Diaz

(Rays at bat, Jordan Montgomery pitching)

Randy Arozarena grounds out to third baseman Josh Jung

Harold Ramirez strikes out swinging on a 81.1 mph curveball

Isaac Paredes singles to leftfield and advances to second when Evan Carter misplays the ball

Curtis Mead grounds out to third baseman Josh Jung

(Rangers lead 4-0 after six innings)

Fifth inning

(Rangers at bat, Tyler Glasnow pitching)

Corey Seager doubles over the head of Jose Siri at the centerfield wall

Robbie Grossman draws a walk, putting runners at first and second with no outs

Adolis Garcia lines a ball of pitcher Tyler Glasnow and deflects to third baseman Isaac Paredes. Seager advances to third base, Grossman to second. Glasnow stays in the game.

Nathaniel Lowe pops out to third baseman Isaac Paredes

Tyler Glasnow throws a wild pitch high off the glove of catcher Rene Pinto, allowing Seager to score from third. Grossman and Garcia each advance a base. (Rangers 2-0)

Jonah Heim draws a walk, reloading the bases with one out

Leody Taveras strikes out on an 82.4 mph curveball

Josh Jung strikes out swinging on an 83.8 mph curveball

(Rays at bat, Jordan Montgomery pitching)

Jose Siri pops out to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe in foul territory

Rene Pinto grounds out to shortstop Corey Seager

Yandy Diaz flies out to centerfielder Leody Taveras

(Rangers lead 2-0 after five innings)

Fourth inning

(Rangers at bat, Tyler Glasnow pitching)

Jonah Heim singles to rightfield

Leody Taveras strikes out looking on a 81.7 mph curveball

Josh Jung flies out to centerfielder Jose Siri

Evan Carter doubles to rightfield, Rangers hold Jonah Heim at third base

Marcus Semien pops out to shortstop Taylor Walls

(Rays at bat, Jordan Montgomery pitching)

Curtis Mead grounds out to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who makes a nice backhand stop

Manuel Margot strikes out swinging on a 81.4 mph curveball

Taylor Walls grounds out to third baseman Josh Jung

(Rangers lead 1-0 after four innings)

Third inning

(Rangers at bat, Tyler Glasnow pitching)

Corey Seager strikes out swinging on a 85.1 mph curveball

Robbie Grossman grounds out to first baseman Yandy Diaz

Adolis Garcia reaches on a throwing error by Taylor Walls, the Rays’ third of the game

Nathaniel Lowe strikes out looking at a 98.7 mph fastball

(Rays at bat, Jordan Montgomery pitching)

Yandy Diaz strikes out looking at a 93.9 mph slider

Randy Arozarena lines a double to left-centerfield, his second hit of the game

Harold Ramirez flies out to rightfielder Adolis Garcia. Arozarena advances to third

Isaac Paredes pops out to first baseman Nathaniel Lowe in foul territory

(Rangers lead 1-0 after three innings)

Second inning

(Rangers at bat, Tyler Glasnow pitching)

Nathaniel Lowe lifts a single to centerfield

Jonah Heim strikes out swinging at a 96.3 mph fastball

Leody Taveras singles past a lunging Yandy Diaz down the rightfield line, moving Lowe to third

Josh Jung hits a sacrifice fly to rightfielder Manuel Margot, scoring Lowe (Rangers lead 1-0)

Leody Taveras steals second base, advances to third on Rene Pinto throwing error

Evan Carter draws a walk

Evan Carter steals second base

Marcus Semien grounds out to shortstop Taylor Walls

(Rays at bat, Jordan Montgomery pitching)

Curtis Mead singles to centerfield

Manuel Margot sacrifices Mead to second base

Taylor Walls singles up the middle, as shortstop Corey Seager is unable to get off a throw with second baseman Marcus Semien sliding in front of him. Mead advances to third

Pitcher Jordan Montgomery makes a diving catch of a bunt that Jose Siri pops into the air

Rene Pinto strikes out swinging on an 81.9 mph curveball

(Rangers lead 1-0 after two innings)

First inning

(Rangers at bat, Tyler Glasnow pitching)

Marcus Semien flies out to leftfielder Randy Arozarena

Corey Seager reaches on a fielding error by first baseman Yandy Diaz

Robbie Grossman strikes out swinging on a 90.5 mph slider

Adolis Garcia strikes out swinging on an 84.8 mph curveball

(Rays at bat, Jordan Montgomery pitching)

Yandy Diaz flies out to rightfielder Adolis Garcia

Randy Arozarena singles to centerfield

Harold Ramirez grounds into a force out, retiring Arozarena at second

Isaac Paredes lines out to leftfielder Evan Carter, who makes a diving catch

(Rays and Rangers tied 0-0 after one inning)

Lineup cards

Pregame scouting report

The last time the Rays were in this situation, things didn’t go so well.

Coming off a third-place finish in the American League East last October, Tampa Bay traveled to Cleveland for the best-of-three Wild Card Series, where it was swept in two games.

Rays pitchers allowed a total of only three runs during the series, but it was two more than their offense managed (along with just nine hits).

But this season feels different.

The Rays are coming off a 99-win season — second-best in franchise history – and have shown remarkable depth and resilience in the face of injuries and absences throughout the season.

In Yandy Diaz, they have the American League batting champion (.330 average). Led by Isaac Paredes (31), Tampa had six players hit 20 or more home runs. Josh Lowe, with 32, was among four players with 20 or more steals.

In starting pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Zach Eflin, they have one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball, and Zack Littell or Aaron Civale is waiting in the wings if the series goes to a third game.

A bullpen that was a liability early in the season turned into a strength following the additions of Jake Diekman, Robert Stephenson and Chris Devenski, and Andrew Kittredge’s return from injury.

The Rays also enter the postseason with some momentum, having won four of their last five regular-season games. Compare that to the Rangers, who dropped four of their last six, losing the West division title to the Houston Astros in the process.

The Rays’ set their 26-man roster for the series earlier Tuesday, including centerfielder Jose Siri but leaving off outfielder/DH Luke Raley and pitchers Kevin Kelly and Taj Bradley. Tampa Bay decided to carry 15 position players, including top prospect Junior Caminero, and 11 pitchers.

The Rangers won four of the six games between the teams this season, but the Rays took two of the three at the Trop, where all three wild-card games will be played.

The teams have met twice before in the playoffs, with the Rangers beating the Rays in the division series in 2010 and 2011.

Pregame scene

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