Diamondbacks vs Rays Recap: Rays top late as Perdomo shines

The Diamondbacks came to Tropicana Field looking to bounce back. They had lost the night before, 6-1, and needed a win badly. But the Rays were hot, riding a three-game winning streak. Things started fast in the first inning. Corbin Carroll smashed a single to right field, and Geraldo Perdomo raced home. Arizona led 1-0. The Rays answered right back. Junior Caminero stepped up and cranked a 361-foot home run to left. One swing tied it up. The game felt electric already, and we were just getting started. Both teams wanted to prove they belonged. Arizona sat at 41-40 on the season, fighting hard in a tough division. Tampa Bay was ahead at 46-33, but nothing was decided yet. The energy at the stadium kept building with every pitch.

The middle innings belonged to the Rays. In the fifth inning, Jonathan Aranda stepped up with power on his mind. Jose Cabrera threw a sinker, and Aranda connected hard. The ball rocketed 391 feet to right center field—a two-run home run! Yandy Diaz scored on the play too. Now Tampa Bay led 3-1. The Rays kept the pressure on in the sixth. Cedric Mullins stepped to the plate with runners in scoring position. His bat flashed through the zone and he sent a sacrifice fly to center field. Victor Mesa Jr. raced home. The board now read 4-1, and Arizona was running out of time. Arizona's pitcher Jose Cabrera had lasted through five innings, giving up four earned runs. The Rays' hitters were taking over. Every time the Diamondbacks got close, Tampa's bats answered back with authority.

Arizona refused to go down without a fight. In the eighth inning, Ketel Marte stepped up to the plate against Kevin Kelly. The pitch came in—an 84-mile-per-hour changeup. Marte swung hard and connected. The ball flew 430 feet into center field for a solo home run! Arizona had scored their second run and the game tightened to 4-2. But it wasn't enough. Bryan Baker came in for the Rays and shut the door in the ninth. The final score stayed at Tampa Bay 4, Arizona 2. The Rays moved to 47-33 on the season with the victory. Arizona dropped to 41-41 after the loss, staying stuck in neutral. The Diamondbacks had battled back, but Tampa's early power surge held up. The Rays' pitching staff kept Arizona's bats mostly quiet when it mattered most. One win each in the series so far.