ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Before joining the injured list with a broken right thumb, Harold Ramirez had recorded hits in nine of 11 games. That propelled his batting average to .329, and it made his earlier-than-expected return to the lineup a welcomed addition for the Rays.
He has remained one of their most consistent hitters since Tuesday’s return — with hits in all five games — and his latest three lifted the Rays to a 3-2 win over the Royals on Sunday afternoon. Ramirez’s two slow-rolling, run-scoring singles, paired with pitching that limited Kansas City to four hits, helped Tampa Bay record its seventh win in 10 games.
The victory clinched the Rays’ season series with the Royals, as they won three games this weekend after dropping two of three in July. And it helped the Rays, who entered Sunday afternoon 1.5 games ahead of the Twins for the final wild-card spot, maintain their grasp on a postseason berth.
