2024 Sunburst Awards: Cleveland Guardians games 94-96

Apparently two runs is all you need!

“Sunburst Awards” is a series-by-series evaluation of player performance, where four different awards are given out after each series: Offensive player of the series, defensive player of the series, pitcher of the series, and highlight play of the series. This edition will be covering the 31st series of the season, where the Tampa Bay Rays took on the Cleveland Guardians from July 12 to July 14, a three game series at Tropicana Field.

The Rays just keep this thing going, finding their way back to .500 winning eight of their last 10 series. Let’s give out some awards!

Game 1: Rays - 2 Guardians - 0

Game 2: Rays - 2 Guardians - 4 (recap)

Game 3: Rays - 2 Guardians - 0 (recap)

Offensive Sunburst Award: Brandon Lowe

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

This wasn’t the most optimal series offensively, however Lowe put together a ‘best of the worst’ batting performance sporting three hits, including this home run in game three to give the Rays a 2-0 lead.

This gives Lowe his second consecutive Sunburst award, and his sixth total thus far in the 2024 season.

Pitching Sunburst Award: Ryan Pepiot

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

Pepiot was absolutely dealing on Sunday to seal the series win for the Rays, pitching six innings giving up just TWO hits while striking out four in the win.

Pepiot has given up just one run and six hits over his last 11 ²⁄₃ innings, entering the All Star break in great form.

Defensive Sunburst Award: Josh Lowe

Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Lowe had an impressive diving catch in game three to help keep the Rays ahead in the sixth inning of game three to earn himself this editions Defensive Sunburst Award

Highlight Sunburst Award: Evan Longoria

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Seeing Longo in a Rays jersey again to throw out the first pitch healed part of my childhood that still hadn’t recovered from his departure in 2017.

Conclusion

After an extremely bumpy first half of the 2024 season, the Rays (somehow) manage to arrive at the break with a .500 record. They’ll get some time to rest and get ready for a four game series in New York starting July 19.