The Arizona Diamondbacks hosted the Tampa Bay Rays in a battle of division leaders. The Diamondbacks entered the game leading the NL West by 2.5 games over the surging San Francisco Giants. Meanwhile, the Rays and their obscene +150 run differential entered the game leading all of MLB by no fewer than three games. Fortune was a fickle mistress for Arizona today. On one hand, they began this big test of a series by sending none other than Zac Gallen to the mound after a day off, setting the Diamondbacks up with the best possible pitching opportunities for this first game.
Tampa Bay 4, Arizona 8: Battle of the Best
