Rays 1, Indians, 3
Record: 29-19
Attendance: 24,084
The Rays blew another chance to move to 12 games over .500 when Jose Alvarado gave up two cheap runs in the bottom of the eighth, one on a dribbler to third that couldn't be played and then on a bases loaded walk--to ex-Ray Jake Bauers. For the second time in a week, Alvarado gave away a game with his unpredictable power pitching that sprays hundred-mile-an-hour bullets inside, outside, and into the dirt. When he can find the strike zone he's fine most of the time, but even then opposing batters are getting their bats on the ball too often, at least the Yankee bats did. He's going to have to step up his game--and soon. Either that or the Rays have to find a legitimate closer. Wait. Did I just hear someone call out the name Craig Kimbrel, the mysteriously still unsigned free agent closer?
Oh yes, it was also the second time in a week that Manager Kevin Cash expressed continued support for Alvarado. Go figure.
Meantime, Blake Snell was denied another win. He was a little shaky, six and two-thirds, four hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts, but he deserved a better fate. His record is a less-than-sterling 3-4 with a still-good 3.07 ERA. And as Marc Topkin reported in today's Tampa Bay Times, this was the seventh time in ten starts that he has received one or no runs in support. Tonight his teammates struck out 16 times, record-tying futility, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Charlie Morton tries to get himself back on the right track tonight after struggling through four innings against the Yankees in his last outing May 19, when he gave up five runs. For the Rays, everything these days seems to be teetering on the edge of collapse. We'll see just how much mental toughness this team has--and how much talent.
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