Rays Stop the Bleeding, Beat Orioles 7-6 & Bucs Return To Practice After 1st Preseason Game

Rays Stop the Bleeding, Beat Orioles 7-6 & Bucs Return To Practice After 1st Preseason Game

Author: Tampa Bay Times August 18, 2026 Duration: 38:12

Rick Stroud and Steve Versnick break down a wild 7-6 win over the Orioles that snapped the Rays' three-game skid and avoided a home sweep — a slugfest that saw Coby Mayo crush one of the longest home runs in Tropicana Field Statcast history off a returning Shane McClanahan, who battled back on a strict pitch count in his first start off the IL. The Rays answered with home runs of their own, including Jorge Mateo's first as a Ray and one from Yandy Diaz, and closer Bryan Baker logged a rare five-out save to lock it down. With the win, Tampa Bay pushes its AL East lead to six games at 75-49 as the Blue Jays roll into the Trop for a three-game series.


On the Bucs side, Rick and Steve recap a scorching first day back at practice, with Emeka Egbuka still walking around in a boot on his injured toe and Jalen McMillan nursing a knee issue — leaving a thin receiver room ahead of Saturday's home preseason game against Kansas City, the Bucs' only preseason game at Raymond James Stadium. They discuss how much action Baker Mayfield and the starters might actually see, the ongoing Jalon Daniels quarterback battle and roster math at backup QB, and where things stand with Vita Vea's holdout as the Bucs look ahead to Cincinnati in the season opener.


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For a daily dose of Tampa Bay sports talk that feels like a conversation with the most plugged-in friends you have, there's Sports Day Tampa Bay. This weekday podcast from the Tampa Bay Times is anchored by award-winning journalist Rick Stroud and co-host Steve Versnick, who bring a newsroom's rigor and a fan's passion to each episode. Instead of just rehashing scores, they dig into the nuances behind them-the strategy shaping the Buccaneers' defense, the roster decisions facing the Rays front office, or the playoff mentality driving the Lightning. The discussion naturally spans the full spectrum of local teams, including USF athletics, providing context that often gets lost in quick headlines. What you'll hear is analysis grounded in decades of institutional knowledge and reporting access, offering a perspective that turns the day's news into a deeper understanding of the games and the people who play them. Tune in each morning for this essential, insider-focused update that has become a routine for fans who want more than the highlight reel.
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