The Tampa Bay Rays came very close to pulling off a three-game sweep over the reeling New York Yankees on Wednesday night.
After losing a 4-0 lead, the Rays took the lead with three runs in the top of the 10th inning.
But with nobody out, the Yankees loaded the bases and ultimately won the game on a grand slam by Josh Donaldson, potentially igniting a little hope for a team that has now lost five consecutive series.
On the opposite side of the coin, the Rays hold a dubious record.
They have now lost 12 games on walk-off grand slams in their franchise history, which the most allowed by any club since 1998, the year the Rays were founded.
This is the 12th time in franchise history the Rays have lost a game on a walk-off grand slam.
That's by far the most of any team since their inaugural season in 1998 (second-most is 7).
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) August 18, 2022
Rays Hold Dubious Mark
The Rays are obviously a solid ballclub with a good chance at the postseason, but to have lost 12 games on walk-off grand slams is pretty embarrassing.
Historically, the Rays have lost a ton of games in dramatic fashion, and while they remain a solid ballclub, that many losses in their franchise history on walk-off grand slams is not a record you want to hold.
Alas, the Rays do in fact hold that record.
The second most walk-off grand slams allowed in that timeframe is seven.
Last night certainly had to have been a demoralizing loss for Tampa Bay, having come so close to pulling off a sweep against the Yankees, only to lose the lead yet again and add to their unfortunate history of losing on walk-off grand slams.
The Rays will now return home and start a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals, following yet another dramatic loss.
The Rays sit in second place in the AL East with a 62-54 record.
NEXT: The Rays Made A High-Upside Trade With The Dodgers