News about Pete Fairbanks

Franco was put on administrative leave by MLB on Tuesday as probes into his suspected dealings with underage girls continued. And, Franco has not played since the allegations emerged, and the Rays began to delete his image from Tropicana Field, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Franco's poster outside the stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, is said to have been replaced with one of infielder Yandy Diaz. According to reports, a shortstop was swapped for one of pitcher Pete Fairbanks.

Josh Jung roped a leadoff double to center off Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks with the game tied 2-2 going into the ninth round. Smith was then called on to help Jung as a pinch runner. Smith came to third on a groundout by Nathaniel Lowe and scored when Fairbanks (0-3) unleashed a wild pitch against Mitch Garver after Adolis Garcia struck out. Aroldis Chapman (5-2), a Texas reliever, won the prize.

In a 6-5 loss to the lowly Kansas City Royals on Thursday night, the major league-leading Tampa Bay Rays lost ace Shane McClanahan to mid-back tightness. McClanahan had hoped to be the year's first 12-game champion before falling with two outs in the fourth. In a 66-pitch outing, the left-hander, who has been 11-1 this season, gave up two runs, four hits, and two walks. Maikel Garcia began with a walk from Pete Fairbanks (0-2) to start the ninth and then stole second and third positions. Garcia scored on MJ Melendez's infield single down the first-base line, putting the Royals ahead 6-5 after Fairbanks had two strikeouts. Overall, the Royals stole seven bases.

The MLB playoff competition is boiling point. When the stakes rise, so do the tempers. On Saturday night, Tampa Bay and Baltimore both played their part in raising such hopes, with both benches clearing in the eighth inning for the Rays up 6-2. Tampa will win by two runs to Baltimore's zero, lifting the Rays to their final wildcard spot, half a game over the Orioles.