Tampa Bay Rays starter Freddy Peralta took the social media spotlight after he struggled in his first World Series against his former team, the Milwaukee Brewers, on Monday. During the fifth inning, he left with the bases loaded and gave up five earned runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 innings in Game 3 of the World Series.
In the game, Freddy Peralta walked three batters and struck out four before exiting with two outs in the fifth inning. Peralta was removed with the bases loaded, Cam Booser allowed four runs without recording an out, and Cole Sulser gave up one more. Fans reacted to Freddy Peralta‘s performance on social media.
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It was the first time Freddy Peralta had allowed more than one run in a start since Aug. 21, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com noted. The outing revived a comparison Peralta had spent three months burying.
He went 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA for the New York Mets after Milwaukee traded him to New York in January. He was then dealt to the Rays at the deadline and rebuilt his season in Tampa Bay.
Freddy Peralta opens up about facing former Brewers teammates in World Series
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta had described a strange homecoming in the days before Game 3. Milwaukee Brewers fans cheered him during the first two games, and he said the reception had not worn off. “It is a little weird,” he said, according to the Associated Press.
“I’ve been trying to focus on what I have to focus because even when I came out yesterday for practice, all the people, all the fans here (were) showing me some love, screaming my name.”
He was equally clear that friendship would not change his approach before the game. In an interview with USA Today, Freddy Peralta said,
“I was very happy for them. I texted some of the guys wishing them the best and they answered back telling me, ‘We want to play against you guys because we want to see you.’
“But I want to make something clear. When I’m on the mound, I see everything like a competition. … I know that sometimes you have people that you love on the other side, but you have to do what you have to do. Then everything takes care of itself.”
Cash had credited Peralta for steering his own turnaround. “I feel like he’s kind of come back to being Freddy Peralta with us,” the manager said before the series. No postgame comment from Cash or the Rays was available in the reports reviewed.
Peralta is a free agent after the season. His Mets stint had threatened to define his walk year, and the run with Tampa Bay had changed the story. Game 3 changed it back, at least for a night.
Edited by Kaushani Chatterjee
