Monday, June 10. Game 65: Morton stabilizes the staff, dominates the A's

Rays 6, Athletics 2

Record:  41-24

Attendance:  16,091  The number is swollen by a $5.00 per ticket flash sale last week and by a free ticket giveaway to teachers, EMTs, and soldiers.  Still, it was a noticeably larger crowd that invigorated the home team.  Maybe this is the turning point of attendance and fans will begin turning out in greater numbers.  It is air conditioned!

Last night's 6-2 win over the Athletics pushed the Rays into first place, half a game ahead of the Yankees who were rained out.  It also pushed them 17 games over .500, their best winning percentage .631 of the season.  It also raised Charlie Morton's record to 8-0 and lowered is ERA to 2.10. (Going back to last August, he is unbeaten in his last 21 starts.)  And there were three two-run homers to back him up, from Brandon Lowe, Kevin Kiermaier, and a suddenly hot Ji-Man Choi, whose average is up to .287 to go along with his seven home runs and 25 RBIs.  Throw in some defensive magic from Kiermaier (which is almost routine) and Tommy Pham and you have the raw ingredients for a fine if unspectacular victory against a .500 club.

If this victory can be put aside as a proper outcome from a superior team, it's good to keep in mind how a loss would have been devastating.  Take no game for granted, and let's see where this all ends up when September comes and the games all take on a new playoff significance.  I can hardly wait.  Baseball is one sweet game.

Injury updates.

First, Brent Honeywell, the pitching prospect with the huge upside even with his slow recovery from Tommy John surgery, fractured a bone in his pitching arm which puts him out of the 2019 picture completely.  He may be able to start baseball activities in January, which may put the 2020 season in play for him.  He is still young (24) and with patience and no further setbacks, he may yet be the pitcher the Rays thought he would develop into.

Second, Joey Wendle (fractured right wrist) may be on schedule to rejoin the team this week.  He will be an immediate upgrade to struggling Daniel Robertson.

Third, Taylor Glasnow (strained forearm) shows continued improvement and is expected back soon after the All-Star break, July 8-11.

Fourth, Catcher Michael Perez has recovered from his oblique injury, but had to be assigned to triple A Durham because the Rays have been so impressed with his emergency replacement, Travis d'Arnaud, who has 18 games under his belt, 54 at-bats.  He started slowly but on the just-finished road trip, he raised his average to .259, added three home runs, and put together a total of 11 RBIs. "We have to recognize what Travis has done," Manager Kevin Cash said.  "He's done a really good job behind the plate.  The bat has certainly come to life here over the last week or so.  And we want to kind of see this play out a little bit more."

Tonight the Rays will open with Ryne Stanek and follow him up with Bulkster Jalen Beeks (5-0, 2.78).  They will face Mike Fiers, who threw a no-hitter on May 7 against the Reds and is 3-0, 2.79 over his last six starts.  This should be a good one.