The Rays went 2 and 2 this week, dropping the opener to the New York Yankees 4-12 on Thursday before taking two of three from the Seattle Mariners over the weekend. They won 7-2 and 6-1 to open that series, then lost the finale 2-8 on Sunday. That series win over Seattle is the headline from a mixed stretch.
Here's the good news on the bigger picture: Tampa Bay is still sitting in first place in the American League East, same as before this stretch started, at zero games back. That held even though the Yankees went a perfect 4-0 in their own games this week and the Red Sox and Orioles both went 4-0 too. The Rays' cushion was big enough that none of that changed the standings at the top. Over the last ten games the Rays are an even 5-5, and the one-game losing streak they're carrying into the break came from that Sunday loss to Seattle.
Jonathan Aranda (1B) was the story with the bat, going 9 for 16 over the four games for a .563 average, with a home run and 3 RBI. Ben Williamson (SS) had a huge day on Saturday, going 4 for 4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Victor Mesa Jr. (RF) and Junior Caminero (3B) both went deep on Friday, with Mesa driving in a run and swiping a base, and Caminero knocking in two.
There's nothing to report on the roster front, no moves this week. And there's nothing to report on the field either right now, the league is on its All-Star break, with the All-Star Game played Tuesday. The Rays last played Sunday, July 12, and they're back in action Friday, July 17 at 10:35 AM PDT, opening a four-game series at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox.