New York Mets at Tampa Bay Rays

Sitting in the Rays’ dugout on Monday afternoon, Freddy Peralta made it clear he feels different than he did a month ago. It might have taken a midseason trade and a fresh start with Tampa Bay, but he believes he is past the issues that plagued him during his disappointing stint with the Mets. Peralta backed up his words by shutting down his former team Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Peralta held the Mets to just one run and struck out seven without a walk over six impressive innings in the Rays’ 6-2 win. After allowing a leadoff homer to Francisco Lindor and two more hits in the first inning, Peralta retired 17 of the last 18 batters he faced, including each of the final 13. “I have my confidence back,” Peralta said afterward. “I think that's a more important thing for a pitcher, when you trust in your stuff again.” It was another huge step in the right direction for Peralta, who has won back-to-back starts for Tampa Bay. The veteran right-hander allowed only two hits over six scoreless innings in Detroit last Wednesday, and he was similarly effective and efficient against the Mets to even the series and improve the American League-leading Rays’ record to 83-55. “His last two outings, he's been kind of the pitcher that he's always been, and we feel really good with him,” DH Yandy Díaz, who doubled and homered, said through interpreter Kevin Vera. “If he keeps doing what he's doing now, it's going to be a good rest of the season for him.” Peralta admitted there was “a little bit” of emotion facing his former team, the one that dealt him to Tampa Bay at the Trade Deadline for three prospects. But he wouldn’t admit to feeling any additional motivation before the outing or satisfaction after the victory. “I feel really happy right now, but I know it's a business. It's nothing to do with that,” Peralta said. “I just enjoyed the game today \[the same\