Rays stage ninth-inning rally, then Lowe walks it off in 10th

ST. PETERSBURG -- After erasing a two-run deficit and tying the game in the ninth inning Wednesday night, the Rays were ready to celebrate. They had water bottles ready in the home dugout at Tropicana Field, convinced the replays they were watching would change Isaac Paredes’ two-out grounder to third base from an out to a walk-off infield single.

Even though the call was upheld, their celebration was not canceled. It was merely delayed.

Unable to finish things in the ninth inning, Brandon Lowe capped Tampa Bay’s second straight comeback victory with a single to right field off left-hander Brent Suter to lead off the 10th. Lowe’s third career walk-off plate appearance sealed a thrilling 6-5 win over the Rockies.

It was the Rays’ seventh walk-off victory of the season and their fifth win this year after they trailed entering the ninth inning, including their fourth when down by multiple runs. And it came on the heels of Tuesday night’s 12-4 rout of the Rockies, when they obliterated a late one-run deficit by scoring nine runs in the eighth inning. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the 10th time in franchise history the Rays have won consecutive games they were losing after seven innings.

“I think it's just a testament to the guys that are in this clubhouse,” Lowe said. “We're starting to really see that we're never out of any ballgame”

The Rays’ confidence seems to be fully restored after a rough July and the uncertainty surrounding star shortstop Wander Franco. They have won three straight games and 15 of their last 23, keeping them within two games of the American League East-leading Orioles. They’ve scored at least six runs in each of their last six games. And they’re back to winning games in dramatic fashion.

“Anytime we can walk off and leave someone out there watching us win, I think it’s a good win,” Yandy Díaz said through interpreter Manny Navarro. “It would be nice to score and win games early, but it’s also very nice to win games late in the game like we have been.”

Leading by a run after five innings, the Rays fell behind in a four-run sixth. But Paredes began chipping away at Colorado’s lead by pulling his team-leading 25th home run out to left field off starter Austin Gomber. Rookie Jacob Lopez kept them within striking distance by pitching three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, and they capitalized in the ninth.

Jose Siri reached on a one-out infield single, Josh Lowe singled to left, and both runners advanced on a double steal. Justin Lawrence then walked René Pinto to load the bases for Tampa Bay’s best hitter, Díaz.

And Díaz delivered, as he so often has, knocking a game-tying single to center.

“We’ve been fortunate that it seems like, when we need a big hit, Yandy’s either up or he’s coming up soon,” manager Kevin Cash said. “It does feel like he comes through more times than not.”

It was more of the same for the All-Star first baseman, who’s hitting .448 (13-for-29) during a streak of six straight multi-hit games. Despite playing through a nagging left shoulder injury all season, which he aggravated diving back to first base in the ninth, Díaz has put together a .912 OPS that trails only Shohei Ohtani among AL hitters.

“I like to play, regardless of if I’m hurt or not,” he said through Navarro. “It’s going to take a lot to get me out of the game, and everything I do is for the team.”

With two outs and the bases loaded, Paredes hit a ground ball to third baseman Ryan McMahon and hustled to first. McMahon’s throw forced Elehuris Montero to reach up the line while trying to keep his foot on the bag, but Paredes was ruled out even though Montero’s foot appeared to slip off from the bag as he stretched to snag the ball.

The Rays thought so, too, but the call was upheld after a replay review.

“I was a little sad because everyone saw on TV that it looked like he was off the base, but obviously they called him safe,” Paredes said through Navarro. “We were a little disappointed about it, but it was a beautiful thing that we were able to come back and win after.”

Sure enough, Pete Fairbanks breezed through the top of the 10th on eight pitches. With speedy rookie Osleivis Basabe on second base as the automatic runner in Paredes’ place, Brandon Lowe took care of the rest.

“We knew. Once it happened, you kind of flip the switch,” he said. “Didn’t really rattle anybody. We really hoped that he was safe and we could end the game there, but we understood that we needed to go out there, play defense for our guy that was going on the mound -- and we’ll win it next half [inning].”