WATCH: Brandon Lowe Hits Grand Slam to Give Rays Big Lead Against Oakland
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays took advantage of a pair of miscues by a pair of Oakland infielders, and second baseman Brandon Lowe made them pay with a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning on Sunday at Tropicana Field.
The Rays had a 1-0 lead heading into the fourth, and third baseman Isaac Paredes was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Designated hitter Harold Ramirez then hit a ground ball to Oakland third baseman Jace Peterson, but he chose to throw to second for a force out, but Paredes beat the throw.
After two outs, Rays catcher Christian Bethancourt grounded a ball to A's shortstop Aledmys Diaz, but he was slow to make the throw and Bethancourt, who can run well for a catcher, beat it out to load the bases.
That brought Lowe, who was leading off for just the second time this season, up to the plate. He took the first pitch from Oakland starter James Kaprielian the opposite way, shooting it over the left-field wall for a grand slam.
Here's the highlight:
It was Lowe's second home run in two days. He hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning on Saturday, which snapped a 24-game homerless streak dating back to July 30, 2022. Lowe dealt with back issues much of the 2022 season and only played in 65 games.
It was the second home run of the game. Tampa Bay shortstop Wander Franco hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first. The link to that highlight is below. The Rays got another home run in the fifth inning when Harold Ramirez hit a towering 441-foot shot deep into the seats in center field.
Here's the highlight of the Ramirez homer.
Lowe finished the day 2-for-4 with five RBIs. He's now driven in eight runs in the past two days after not driving in any during the Rays' first seven games. The Rays are 9-0 and will host the Boston Red Sox next for a four-game series, starting on Monday night.
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