Sunday, April 7. Game 10: A Diaz Doozie

Rays 3, Giants 0 

Record:  7-3

Attendance:      31,574     

          The big story in today’s 3-0 win over the Giants is the way our Tampa Bay Rays draw fans into the ballpark, 104,469 in three days at Oracle Park in San Francisco.  The Amazing Rays.

            But there is a lot more to like about today’s win.  First is the leadoff home run by Yandy Diaz, who everyday is making Rays fans forget how much they hated giving up Jake Bauers to get him. Bauers is hitting .182 with no homers and two RBIs, while Diaz is hitting .310 with two homers and three RBIs going into today’s action.  Today’s home run was another  Diaz Doozie:  a laser shot that left the park the park at 109 mph.  The problem is that it was traveling too fast for anyone to see it very clearly.  It hit the left field bleachers about ten rows back and bounced back onto the playing field, and no one could be sure if it was a homer or a single.  The umpires conferred, called New York, and signaled home run.

            The second thing to like is the work of starter Yonny Chirinos, who pitched five innings of two-hit shutout ball for his second win of the year. He lowered his ERA to 0.75, his WHIP to 0.42.  Officially designated still as a bulker, he has yet to appear in that capacity and has two wins as a traditional starter.  [Pause here to think about the possibilities. . . .]  Following Chirinos were the usual bullpen heroes:  Kolarek, Roe, and Castillo, followed by the unofficial closer, José Alvarado, who picked up his fourth save.  Very neat and efficient.

            A third thing to like is the hitting and base running of Kevin Kiermaier, now hitting over .300 with a pair of homers and six RBIs.  In the top of the fourth, Kiermaier was on second when Christian Arroyo hit a single to shallow right center where Steven Duggar fielded the ball cleanly and came up throwing home--but fearlessly and recklessly, Kiermaier was already diving head first and sliding his hand in just under the tag for the Ray’s second run.  Then in the top of the eighth, Kiermaier drove a ball to the right center field wall and slid safely into third with a triple.  With Willy Adames at the plate, Giant reliever Nick Vincent surprised everyone in the park, including himself I think, and threw awkwardly to try and pick Kiermaier off.  It was a balk and Kiermaier strolled home with the last run of the game.  
          Two out of three against Evan Longoria and his Giants for their opening series of the year.  Sweet.  
          Tommy Pham reached base for the 42^nd consecutive game.  And Rays reliever Adam Kolarek played first base, another of Kevin Cash’s Break-Every-Rule style of managing.  In a righty-lefty switch, Cash put Kolarek on first while Chaz Roe came in to strike out Longoria, then put Kolarek back on the mound to strike out the dangerous lefty Brandon Belt.  Business as usual for this bunch.

            Next is a three-game set in Chicago against the White Sox.  Blake Snell is on the mound tomorrow afternoon.