Rays return to .500 after sweep of Padres, incredible road trip

For a second, it was looking like the Rays were quickly descending into their second straight season of disappointment. After losing 5 of 6 games and playing very mediocre baseball, fans were getting ready to throw in the towel, even though it's very early into the season. The strength of the AL East division requires the Rays to be on top of their game, so it's an understandable overreaction. However, the impossible happened. Chandler Simpson and company tore up their NL West competitors in back-to-back series.

Rays take 2 out of 3 against the talented Diamondbacks

To start off the road trip, Tampa Bay faced a deep Arizona club. This team has been a playoff contender for the last few seasons and even appeared in the World Series against the Rangers in 2023. Nevertheless, the Rays didn't back down. They knew that they needed a great road trip to climb out of the early hole they created for themselves.

Therefore, timely hitting and great pitching led them to back-to-back extra inning wins to take the series. Christopher Morel and Yandy Diaz led the force as they combined for 10 hits in the series. Morel went 4-for-10 with two home runs and four RBIs to continue his comeback campaign.

Rays sweep Padres at Petco Park

Now, here was the true test. The Padres were on a little bit of a skid after dropping 2 of 3 games to the Tigers at Comerica Park, but they were ready to continue elite play at their home ballpark. Going into the series against the Rays, San Diego was an unreal 12-1 at their friendly confines. The odds were not in the Rays' favor.

Nonetheless, this gritty club fought tooth and nail against a proven Padres club. Rays pitchers held the NL West team to only three runs in three contests. That's an amazing accomplishment against a lineup with the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr and Manny Machado.

From the offensive side, the Rays only scored nine runs themselves, but it was enough to complete their first sweep of the season. It was surprising that they hadn't swept any of the teams they had previously faced and even more shocking that the Padres were their first victims.

Leading the charge in the order over the weekend was rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson. Simpson definitely looked comfortable in high-leverage spots throughout the series. The speedy leadoff hitter went 6-for-11 in the series and flashed the leather as well, robbing Manny Machado of a clutch home run in the 7th inning of game 2. The red-hot Rays will now return to Steinbrenner Field to face the streaking Royals who have won 6 of their last 7 games. The first game will be on Tuesday with Taj Bradley opposing veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen.