ST. PETERSBURG (SNN-TV) – After tempers flared between the Rays and Orioles on Saturday, Tampa looked to snag a series win in the finale of the three game set yesterday.
Drew Rasmussen took a perfect game into the ninth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays expanded their lead over Baltimore for the final AL wild card to 1½ games with a 4-1 victory over the Orioles.
Rasmussen allowed his first baserunner when Jorge Mateo doubled down the left-field line on the first pitch of the ninth. Mateo, who went 5-for-5 on Friday night, later scored on a Rasmussen wild pitch.
The right-hander struck out seven over 8? innings, the longest outing of his career. He threw 62 of 87 pitches for strikes.
Rasmussen spoke postgame about coming so close to achieving history.
“There’s no one on Earth that goes out there with the intentions of throwing a no-hitter, having it happen and expecting perfect results. Typically not how it goes. But if you take it one pitch at a time and give yourself the best chance possible.”
The Rays now turn their attention to the New York Yankees, as they start a three-game series with the Bronx Bombers tonight at Yankee Stadium.
