Rockies
1, Rays 0, 11 innings
Record: 5-2
Record: 5-2
Attendance: 11,093
This loss will hurt for a while. The Rays came up empty over 11 innings,
wasting two excellent chances in regulation time before Chaz Roe, on an 0-2 count,
gave up the winning home run to light hitting catcher Chris Iannetta in the top
of the eleventh. It was all the more
frustrating because they wasted good scoring opportunities in the sixth,
seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth innings, leaving a whopping 13 runners on
base and going 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position. Slumping Willy Adames (now hitting .043 on
1 for 20 hitting) had the worst of it, coming up in the seventh with runners on
second and third and one out. He dropped
a near-perfect bunt down the third base side and was safe by a hair, thus
getting a hit, breaking his slump, and driving in what might have been the
winning run. Except that the call was reversed on a challenge. But then it was déjà vu all over again in the
bottom of the ninth. With runners on
second and third and one out, again, Adames took a strike, then whiffed at a
bunt attempt. Manager Kevin Cash then
called on Willy to bunt again, with two strikes, a bold but fatal move as Willy
missed again. Two outs. Followed quickly by the third. No runs.
Again. Oh, and Adames struck out
his other three at bats. The game was a
disaster from start to finish.
More or less lost in the offensive futility
was that they also wasted a second excellent start from Charlie Morton, who
went six scoreless innings, striking out 6, walking 2, and giving up 4 hits. He was followed by five relievers, all of
whom were excellent—except for that one pitch by Roe to Iannetta. There are going to be games like this over a
162 game schedule, but the Rays had better find a way to win them if they are
going to compete in the AL East.
The Rays will have a day off tomorrow to lick
their wounds and at the same time get ready for the Giants on Friday. Bouncing back was a hallmark of last year’s
team. Let’s hope it is carried over into
the new season.
With his single to right in the
first, Tommy Pham was on base for the 39th consecutive game, tying
Johnny Damon’s 2011 team record. . . .
Daniel Robertson was back on the field after being pulled for illness
yesterday. . . . . And Yandy Diaz’s
ankle injury is not as serious as first feared.
Attendance managed to break 11,000—by 93. Pathetic.
Where is the Rays fan base?
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