Live-Blogging Game 162: Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 10/03/2021

MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees 10/03/2021

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Baseball’. This Afternoon, it is Tampa Bay Rays taking on New York Yankees.

All 30 Major League Baseball Teams will play their 162nd and last game of 2021 Regular Season Today, shortly after 2:00 pm CDT. There are 6 games with MLB Postseason Implications. Padres/Giants and Brewers/Dodgers (TV: TBS) will determine the National League West Crown or a 163rd game for that division. While Red Sox/Nationals, Orioles/Blue Jays, Angels/Mariners, and this blog post’s featured game will determine the 2 American League Wild Card Spots.
 
Red Sox and Yankees are tied for both AL Wild Card Spots. Blue Jays and Mariners are also tied 1 GB of Red Sox and Yankees. So, if Red Sox and Yankees lose and Blue Jays and Mariners win, there will be two tiebreaker games. And there are possibilities that there could be a tiebreaker scenario where one team may have to lose twice to be eliminated from Postseason.
 
For the Yankees, a win today will clinch an AL Wild Card Spot. They could not be eliminated from Postseason contention, today.
 
As for the Rays, they have everything wrapped out. However, they would like for the four possible wild card opponents to weaken by the time Tampa Bay plays either Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, or Mariners on Thursday.
 
This Afternoon’s Starting Pitchers are a pair of right-handed pitchers. Michael Wacha will start for the Rays. While Yankees will start Jameson Taillon. Wacha comes in with a strikeout/walk ratio of 3.97, 3.75 pitches/plate appearance, and 0.91 groundout/airout ratio.
It is Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees, coming up shortly.
​
Tampa Bay Rays:

1. Brandon Lowe, 2B
2. Randy Arozarena, RF
3. Wander Franco, SS
4. Nelson Cruz, DH
5. Austin Meadows, LF
6. Ji-Man Choi, 1B
7. Mike Zunino, C
8. Joey Wendle, 3B
9. Kevin Kiermaier, CF

 
New York Yankees:

1. Gleyber Torres, 2B
2. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
3. Aaron Judge, RF
4. Giancarlo Stanton, DH
5. Joey Gallo, LF
6. Gio Urshela, SS
7. Brett Gardner, CF
8. Gary Sanchez, C

       9. Rougned Odor, 3B

Rays are in their gray uniforms, navy caps with a white 'TB' on the hat. While the Yankees are in their home white uniforms, with navy pinstripes and caps with 'NY' on the hat.

Ken Singleton is the color analyst with Michael Kay.


Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
​1. Lowe
2. Arozarena
3. Franco
Jameson Taillon (RHP) now starting as Yankees Pitcher.
MLB Scores:
​​If this game is in a rain delay. I will look at the other games with AL Wild Card implications. 
It is currently mostly cloudy at Yankee Stadium, from YES' view. 
First Pitch around 2:09 pm CDT.
Angel Hernandez is the Home Plate Umpire.
Lowe lines out to Odor (4 pitches). 1 out.
Arozarena pops out to Urshela (6 pitches). 2 outs.
Franco hits a 2-out single to right center field (2 pitches). Runner on 1st.
Cruz flies out to Gardner (1 pitch). 3 outs.
Rays strand a base runner. 


Middle of 1st Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Torres
2. Rizzo
3. Judge
Michael Wacha (RHP) now starting as Rays Pitcher.
​Torres grounds out to Lowe (7 pitches). 1 out.
Rizzo gets hit by a pitch (2 pitches). Runner on 1st.
DOUBLE PLAY: Judge grounds into 6-4-3 double play (1 pitch). 3 outs.
Yankees side is retired.

End of 1st Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
5. Meadows
6. Choi
7. Zunino
​Taillon currently at 13 pitches.
Meadows grounds out to Torres on the right side of the diamond (3 pitches). 1 out.
Choi grounds out to Torres on the right side again (4 pitches). 2 outs.
Zunino pops out to Rizzo (2 pitches). 3 outs.
Rays go down 1-2-3, in their half of 2nd Inning.


Middle of 2nd Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
4. Stanton
5. Gallo
6. Urshela
Wacha currently at 10 pitches.
​Stanton grounds out to Zunino (5 pitches). 1 out.
NFL Week 4 Scores:
Gallo flies out to Kiermaier (2 pitches). 2 outs.
Urshela grounds out to Franco (3 pitches) 3 outs.
Yankees go down 1-2-3, in their half of 2nd Inning.


End of 2nd Inning:
TB 0, NYY

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
8. Wendle
9. Kiermaier
1. Lowe, 0-1
Angels and Jays are Leading; Red Sox and Nationals are scoreless 
Taillon currently at 22 pitches.
Wendle gets strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 1 out.
Kiermaier draws a base on balls (6 pitches). Runner on 1st.
Wendle singles to left field line (1 pitch). Kiermaier advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd.
YANKEES MOUND VISIT #1: MVR: TB 5, NYY 4
Wandy Peralta (LHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen. 
Arozarena strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 2 outs.
Franco lines out to Gallo (7 pitches). 3 outs.
Rays strand a pair of base runners.

Middle of 3rd Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
7. Gardner
8. Sanchez
9. Odor
Wacha currently at 20 pitches.
​Gardner grounds out to Lowe (2 pitches). 1 out.
Sanchez strikes out swinging (6 pitches). 2 outs.
Odor grounds out to Choi, unassisted (1 pitch). 3 outs.
Yankees go down 1-2-3, in their half of 3rd Inning.


End of 3rd Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Cruz, 0-1
5. Meadows, 0-1
6. Choi, 0-1
​NFL Week 4 Scores:
Taillon currently at 44 pitches.
Cruz flies out to Judge (1 pitch). 1 out.
PITCHING CHANGE: Wandy Peralta (LHP) replaces Jameson Taillon, as Yankees Pitcher. 1 out. TB 0, NYY 0
​Meadows doubles down left field line (1 pitch). Runner on 2nd.
Choi draws a base on balls (5 pitches). Runners on 1st & 2nd.
YANKEES MOUND VISIT #2: MVR: TB 5, NYY 3
Zunino reaches on an unassisted fielder's choice (3 pitches). Meadows is out at 3rd. Choi moves to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd. 2 outs.
Chad Green (RHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen.
With Wendle at-bat, Choi and Zunino move 90 feet, on a wild pitch by Peralta. 
Wendle grounds out to Torres (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Rays strand a pair of base runners.

Middle of 4th Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up
1. Torres, 0-1
2. Rizzo, 0-0
3. Judge, 0-1
Wacha currently at 29 pitches.
Torres hits a lead-off single to center field (1 pitch). Runner on 1st.
Rizzo lines out to a diving Meadows (1 pitch). 1 out.
Judge strikes out swinging (5 pitches). 2 outs.
Stanton flies out to Arozarena (6 pitches). 3 outs.
​Yankees strand a base runner.


End of 4th Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Kiermaier, 0-0
1. Lowe, 1-2
2. Arozarena, 0-2
Peralta currently at 12 pitches.
Clay Holmes (RHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen.
Kiermaier strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 1 out.
Lowe strikes out swinging (5 pitches). 2 outs.
PITCHING CHANGE: Clay Holmes (RHP) replaces Wandy Peralta, as Yankees Pitcher. 2 outs. TB 0, NYY 0
​Arozarena strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 3 outs.
Rays go down 1-2-3, in their half of 5th Inning.

Middle of 5th Inning:
​TB 0, NYY 0

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Gallo, 0-1
6. Urshela, 0-1
7. Gardner, 0-1
Wacha currently at 42 ptches.
Gallo draws a base on balls (6 pitches). Runner on 1st.
DOUBLE PLAY: Urshela grounds into a 4-3 double play (1 pitch). 2 outs.
Gardner flies out to Meadows (6 pitches). 3 outs.
​Yankees side is retired. 


End of 5th Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Franco, 1-2
4. Cruz, 0-2
5. Meadows, 1-2
Holmes currently at 4 pitches.
Chad Green (RHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen.
NFL Week 4 Scores:
Franco pops out to Torres (7 pitches). 1 out.
Cruz grounds out to Odor (3 pitches). 2 outs.
PITCHING CHANGE: Chad Green (RHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen. 2 outs. TB 0, NYY 0
​JT Chargois (RHP) warming up in Rays Bullpen.
Meadows fouls out to a flying Urshela (3 pitches). Urshela flew into the Rays Dugout to get the fly ball. Urshela is being looked at by Yankees Training Staff. 3 outs.
When he went into Rays Dugout, it looked like Urshela's left side hits the back part of Tampa Bay's Dugout Bench. 

Middle of 6th Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Sanchez, 0-1
9. Odor, 0-1
1. Torres, 1-2
PITCHING CHANGE: JT Chargois (RHP) replaces Michael Wacha, as Rays Pitcher.
Sanchez strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 1 out.
Odor strikes out swinging (6 pitches). 2 outs.
Torres draws a 2-out walk (9 pitches). Runner on 1st.
RAYS MOUND VISIT #1: MVR: TB 4, NYY 3
Rizzo flies out to Kiermaier (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Yankees strand a base runner. 


End of 6th Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Choi, 0-1
7. Zunino, 0-2
8. Wendle, 0-2
Green currently at 3 pitches
Jonathon Loaisiga (RHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen.
Collin McHugh (RHP) warming up in Rays Bullpen.
Choi hits a lead-off double to right field (6 pitches). Runner on 2nd.
Blue Jays Winning 11-2; Red Sox and Mariners are losing
Zunino strikes out swinging (5 pitches). 1 out.
Wendle lines out to Judge (4 pitches). 2 outs.
YANKEES MOUND VISIT #3: MVR: TB 4, NYY 2
Kiermaier draws a 2-out walk (6 pitches). Runners on 1st & 2nd.
PITCHING CHANGE: Jonathon Loaisiga (RHP) replaces Chad Green, as Yankees Pitcher.
​Lowe fouls out to Odor (4 pitches). 3 outs.
Rays strand a pair of base runners.

Middle of 7th Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Judge, 0-2
4. Stanton, 0-2
5. Gallo, 0-1
​PITCHING CHANGE: Collin McHugh (RHP) replaces JT Chargois, as Rays Pitcher.
Judge grounds out to Lowe (3 pitches). 1 out.
Stanton pops out to Choi (4 pitches). 2 outs.
Gallo gets called out on strikes (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Yankees go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.


End of 7th Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Arozarena, 0-3
3. Franco, 1-3
4. Cruz, 0-3
​Loaisiga currently at 4 pitches.
NFL Week 4 Scores:
David Robertson (RHP) warming up in Rays Bullpen.
Arozarena with a swinging bunt in the infield grass (3 pitches). Runner on 1st.
STOLEN BASE: With Franco at-bat, Arozarena steals 2nd Base. Runner on 2nd. 
Franco flies out to Gallo (3 pitches). Arozarena moves to 3rd. Runner on 3rd. 1 out.
Aroldis Chapman (LHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen.
Cruz strikes out swinging (6 pitches). 2 outs.
YANKEES MOUND VISIT #4: MVR: TB 4, NYY 1
Meadows flies out to Judge (5 pitches). 3 outs.
Rays strand a base runner at third base.

Middle of 8th Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Urshela, 0-2
7. Gardner, 0-2
8. Sanchez, 0-2
​PITCHING CHANGE: David Robertson (RHP) replaces Collin McHugh, as Rays Pitcher.
DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: Brett Phillips replaces Austin Meadows.
Urshela grounds out to Franco (5 pitches). 1 out.
Gardner flies out to Arozarena (2 pitches). 2 outs.
Sanchez flies out to Phillips (6 pitches). 3 outs.
Yankees go down 1-2-3, in their half of 8th Inning.

End of 8th Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Choi, 1-2
7. Zunino, 0-3
8. Wendle, 0-3
​PITCHING CHANGE: Aroldis Chapman (LHP) replaces Jonathon Loaisiga, as Yankees Pitcher.
DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: Andrew Velasquez replaces Gio Urshela at shortstop.
Choi strikes out swinging (6 pitches). 1 out.
Zunino lines out to Gallo (2 pitches). 2 outs.
Josh Fleming (LHP) warming up in Rays Bullpen.
Wendle draws a 2-out walk (5 pitches). Runner on 1st.
PINCH-HITTING: Manuel Margot pinch-hitting for Kevin Kiermaier. 
STOLEN BASE: With Margot at-bat, Wendle steals 2nd Base. Runner on 2nd.
Margot strikes out swinging (5 pitches). 3 outs.
Rays strand a base runner. 


Middle of 9th Inning:
TB 0, NYY 0

Bottom of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Odor, 0-2
1. Torres, 1-2
2. Rizzo, 0-2
PITCHING CHANGE: Josh Fleming (LHP) replaces David Robertson, as Rays Pitcher.
​Red Sox are Tied, Blue Jays Leading, and Mariners Trailing 
Odor hits a lead-off single to center field (2 pitches). Yankees' 2nd hit of the game. 
PINCH-RUNNING:  Tyler Wade pinch-running for Rougned Odor. 
Torres flies out to Phillips (5 pitches). Wade advances to 2nd. Runner on 2nd. 1 out.
RAYS MOUND VISIT #2: MVR: TB 3, NYY 1
Andrew Kittredge (RHP) warming up in Rays Bullpen.
Luis Severino (RHP) warming up in Yankees Bullpen.
Rizzo singles to right field (4 pitches). Wade advances to 3rd. Rizzo advances to 2nd, on the throw by Arozarena. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. 
PITCHING CHANGE: Andrew Kittredge (RHP) replaces Josh Fleming, as Rays Pitcher. Runnners on 2nd & 3rd. 1 out. TB 0, NYY 0
WALK-OFF SINGLE: Judge hits an RBI-Single to second base. Wade scores. TB 0, NYY 1

Final:
TB 0, NYY 1
TB: (100-62)
NYY: (92-70)
W: Chapman (6-4)
L: Fleming (10-8)
PoG: Judge (NYY) 1-4, Walk-Off Single, RBI
ToG: 3:03

Final Thoughts:
Rays and Yankees played a pitcher's dual in Game 162. But Yankees get a few hits, including the Walk-Off Single by Aaron Judge. So, the Yankees will be one American League Wild Card.

For the Rays, they had a chance to cause chaos with their AL East. But they couldn't score the runs that they did yesterday. 

Yankees will head to Boston, to face their arch-nemesis Red Sox. Gerrit Cole will be the starting in the AL Wild Card Game on Tuesday Night. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this page.