Austin Shenton, stepping in as a pinch hitter, drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning, breaking the tie and helping the Tampa Bay Rays secure a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night.
Adam Ottavino almost escaped the jam with just one out left in the eighth, thanks to a superb throw by shortstop Francisco Lindor at home plate. But Shenton’s patient nine-pitch at-bat ended with a walk, followed by another walk to José Caballero, extending the Rays’ lead to 3-1.
Jason Adam maneuvered through a tough situation in the eighth, and Phil Maton closed out the game in the ninth, earning his first save.
Rays manager Kevin Cash notched his 755th win, surpassing Joe Maddon for the most wins in team history. The players celebrated by dousing Cash with beer, champagne, shaving cream, and even baby powder, turning the milestone into a memorable moment.
Mets’ pitcher Christian Scott had an impressive debut in the big leagues, allowing just one run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. The Coconut Creek, Florida native struck out six batters and only walked one.
“It was a great experience,” Scott commented. “Having my family here made me feel at ease. I had confidence in my abilities.”
Scott gave the ball from his first strikeout to his parents as a keepsake. Following the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced that Scott will continue to be part of the starting rotation.
In the first inning, Scott faced some tough situations with three straight batters reaching base, resulting in an RBI single. However, he managed to minimize the damage by striking out a batter and inducing a double-play grounder.
“He showed great composure,” Mendoza remarked. “After that initial challenge, he was in control.” Scott retired 12 consecutive batters before giving up a single in the fifth inning. He then struck out another batter to end the inning, leaving a runner stranded on third base.
