ST. PETERSBURG — Rays reliever Bryan Baker recorded his 40th save of the season Saturday, becoming the first Tampa Bay pitcher to reach that milestone since Alex Colomé had 47 in 2017 and setting a franchise record with 29 consecutive save opportunities converted.
Baker, who was never penciled in as the team’s closer, needed a four-out save to preserve a one-run lead over the Astros as the Rays chase the Yankees in the AL East race. He struck out Daulton Varsho with a 96.2 mph fastball to escape the eighth inning with the tying run at third base, then navigated a ninth inning in which his heater topped out at just 93.9 mph.
“It’s a team stat, so just us as a unit being able to give me those situations throughout the year, it’s been amazing,” Baker said. “Really just using everybody around me to seal those saves, it’s been an honor.”
The Rays entered the season expecting to deploy a closer-by-committee approach after losing former closer Pete Fairbanks. Manager Kevin Cash planned to rotate Griffin Jax, Edwin Uceta, Garrett Cleavinger and Baker through high-leverage situations. Baker’s dominance made the committee unnecessary.
“He’s been just spectacular for us,” Cash said. The four-out save was only the second time Baker recorded more than three outs in a game this season, joining a five-out performance against the Orioles on Aug. 17. Cash acknowledged the rarity of the extended outing. “It definitely speaks to that,” Cash said. “That’s not something we’re going to do too frequently.”
Baker’s 29 consecutive conversions surpassed Mason Miller’s streak of 28 straight for the longest in the Majors this season. The final out Saturday was anything but comfortable — Taylor Trammell sent a 3-1 fastball to the wall in right field before Victor Mesa Jr. hauled it in. Baker raised both arms on the mound.
“Honestly, in probably the second or third row,” Baker said when asked where he thought the ball was headed. “Off the bat, yeah, it felt like he got it pretty good. I think he just got underneath it just enough, so we’ll take it.”
Baker had pitched only twice since a combination of illness and fatigue knocked him out of a shaky outing in Texas on Sept. 4. He credited adrenaline for carrying him through the extended appearance. “I felt a little low on energy, but I think it’s pretty easy to find and tap into some adrenaline of some sort in that scenario,” Baker said. “I was able to dig deep and get to the finish line some way or another.”
Left-hander Ian Seymour captured the clubhouse sentiment. “How awesome is that, huh?” Seymour said. “There’s just such a safety of knowing that he’s coming into the game.”
Baker is the seventh pitcher in Rays history to register 40 or more saves in a single season, and the Rays continue their push in the AL East standings during the final weeks of the regular season.