Rays Fall Short of No-Hitter in Loss to Diamondbacks

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays' pursuit of a combined no-hitter came to an abrupt end on Sunday when Arizona's Corbin Carroll hit a leadoff single in the seventh inning. The hit, a flare to shallow left field, eluded shortstop Taylor Walls, who attempted a bare-handed catch. Carroll's single was followed by another hit from Lourdes Gurriel Jr., marking a significant moment in the game. Drew Rasmussen, serving as the opener for the Rays, showcased impressive performance by striking out two batters over two perfect innings. Prior to the seventh, Tyler Alexander, who took over pitching duties, had allowed only one baserunner, a leadoff walk to Geraldo Perdomo in the fourth inning. The Rays had established a commanding lead of 6-1 at that point in the game. The Rays' defense was also notable, with Walls making a crucial play in the first inning. He successfully threw out Gurriel on a grounder that had been deflected by Junior Caminero at third base, demonstrating the team's defensive prowess despite the eventual loss of the no-hitter. Ultimately, the Rays' strong start and solid pitching were overshadowed by the Diamondbacks' offensive efforts, as they managed to break through in the later innings, leaving Tampa Bay to reflect on what could have been a historic achievement.