Clutch Cruz: 'That's why I was brought here'

BALTIMORE -- Ahead of their nine-game road trip, the Rays knew this weekend was an opportunity to pad their lead in the American League East. They went into Friday’s series opener against the last-place Orioles 1 1/2 games up on the Red Sox, whom Tampa Bay visits during the trip.

Without slugger Randy Arozarena, who was placed on the COVID-related IL on Friday, the Rays needed someone to step up and create runs. Nelson Cruz did just that in Tampa Bay’s 10-6 win. The former Oriole smacked a game-tying three-run homer and a go-ahead two-run double. Combined with the Red Sox's loss to the Blue Jays, the Rays increased their lead to 2 1/2 games.

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“It definitely feels better,” Cruz said about finally contributing to his new team like he has wanted to. “No doubt, that's why I was brought here. So, definitely feels good to be able to drive in those runs, especially those situations.”

Cruz had struggled since joining the Rays, entering Friday batting .184 in 10 games with his new club. Maybe it was his familiarity with Camden Yards, or maybe he’s settling in. But this was what Tampa Bay needed from the designated hitter.

“It sure is,” said Kevin Kiermaier when asked if this was what he expected from Cruz. “I think we were all thinking of that as he was rounding the bases. That's why you get an impact bat like that. That's what he's done his whole career, and that's what we acquired him to do. And boy, the timing on that was absolutely perfect. … Bless his heart and bless his bat because we love seeing that.”

Cruz single-handedly accounted for half of the Rays’ runs, becoming the oldest player (41 years, 36 days) to reach five RBIs in a game since 2013 (Jason Giambi, 42 years, 102 days).

“He’s been an RBI machine for umpteen years now,” manager Kevin Cash said with a smile. “Now he gets to do it for us for a little while."

Cruz’s 439th career home run -- tying him for 44th in AL/NL history -- was a no-doubter, a Statcast-projected 395-foot blast to left-center field. Not only did it tie the game for the Rays, it seemingly gave the slugger the confidence he needed. He broke a 5-5 tie in the eighth inning with his double as Tampa Bay scored five in the inning.

Though Arozarena’s bat would have been a major boost to the offense -- he has driven in 16 runs and smacked seven homers against the Orioles this season -- the display from Cruz and multiple members of the lineup suggested the Rays will be just fine in his absence.

“I think that that's what they do,” said Cash about his offense stepping up. “I mean, this team, this group, this offense has performed really, really well. We're really pleased with all of it, top to bottom. Randy's a big part of it, we know how big he is. When he's not there, it means a lot when we got other guys that can really contribute.”

The Rays continued their late-inning trend by scoring five runs after the seventh. They lead MLB in runs scored in that frame or later.

“We weren't able to get a whole lot going there,” said Kiermaier. “[The Orioles] were the better team first half of the game. But Nellie Cruz just being himself right there coming up huge with the clutch game-tying homer. Then we just rode the momentum out from there.”