On a cold, rainy, and blustery day, the Rays would fall to the three-win White Sox on a nationally televised game, carried by Apple TV+.
The field was surprisingly playable, as the grounds crew was literally sweeping buckets of water with rubber brooms, and it was playball when the sun peaked through just before game time, but the elements would strike here and there, like when Caballero feet slid out from under him while on the outfield grass in the sixth.
Chris Flexen, and his 6.41 ERA entering this game after pitching as a bulk guy this season,
Yandy Diaz — back in lead off, thank God — led the game with a stand up double, but the Rays were out of the frame in ten pitches on popups, indicative of how this game would go for the offense as Flexen mixed his pitches well and kept the Rays bats guessing all night, something Cash validated after the game, per Marc Topkin:
“I don’t think we had the best approach (Friday) with Flexen,” manager Kevin Cash said.