SAN DIEGO — Blake Snell arrived at Petco Park on Sunday afternoon with one goal in mind: Get deep in the game.
He made it five innings as the Rays took Game 1 of the American League Division Series, 2–1. Five isn’t a lot. But it was enough.
“I’m happy with it,” he said afterward, “Because I know how tough it was.”
The Rays are two days free of an ALDS that went five games and required 6 u2154 innings from their bullpen in the final one. Their three relief aces—righties Pete Fairbanks, Diego Castillo and Nick Anderson—all went at least two frames.