BREAKING: Brandon Lowe’s explosive grand slam propelled the Tampa Bay Rays to a decisive 7-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on September 3, 2023, completing a crucial three-game sweep. The Rays now stand at 67-69 as they gear up for a pivotal home series against the Mariners and Guardians, both vying for the American League wild-card spots.
The Rays wasted no time, launching to a commanding 6-0 lead in the second inning, thanks to Lowe’s two-out grand slam. This marked Lowe’s fifth grand slam of his career, tying him with franchise legends Ben Zobrist and Carlos Pena for the most in team history.
In the second inning, Josh Lowe set the stage with a leadoff double against Nationals starter Brad Lord, formerly of USF. Following a series of aggressive plays, Lowe’s grand slam came off a 1-2 slider, sending the ball 367 feet over the right-field fence. This was Lowe’s second homer of the series, his third of the road trip, and his 28th home run this season.
The Rays extended their lead to 7-0 in the third inning when Josh Lowe tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Everson Pereira. However, starting pitcher Ian Seymour faced challenges in the third, allowing one run and three runs in the fourth inning due to defensive errors.
Seymour, in his second big-league start, pitched five innings, yielding four runs (only one earned) on four hits, while striking out eight batters. Despite the Nationals mounting a comeback, closer Pete Fairbanks secured the win, saving his 24th game after a tense ninth inning.
“It feels great to contribute to the team’s success,” Lowe said after the game. “Every win matters as we push for the playoffs.”
The Rays are now focused on their upcoming series against the Mariners, who currently hold the third wild-card spot in the American League, and the Guardians, who are positioned closely behind. Fans are eager to see if the Rays can leverage this momentum to make a strong push for postseason contention.
Stay tuned for further updates as the Rays continue their quest for playoff glory!
