Yankees 8, Rays 4 (11 innings)
Record: 50-39
Attendance: 22,189
For three consecutive nights, the Rays have given away games, one in the 9th inning, one in the 10th, and now one in the eleventh, all because they don't have a late inning closer. Three nights ago it was Jose Alvarado who melted down and gave up six runs in the top of the ninth. Two nights ago it was Oliver Drake and Emilio Pagan who dished up five runs in the tenth. Last night it was Ryne Stanek who gave up four runs in the eleventh. Each one of those late-inning collapses featured a three-run homer. The Rays can maybe get away with some of these high-leverage losers against the lower tier clubs, but against the good ones, the Rays don't stand a chance. It's a weakness that has become a full-scale laugh-out-loud embarrassment.
Going into extra innings, the Rays looked respectable last night. Brendan McKay pitched five good innings (three runs, six hits, no walks), Newcomer Michael Brosseau continued to impress with three hits, including an off-the-wall double to left. Kevin Kiermaier drove in two with a single that upped his RBI total to 41 on the year. And there were home runs from Mike Zunino and Nate Lowe, his first ever.
But then came the 11th and all the good went down the drain when Stanek gave the game away. With Alvarado and Diego Castillo both unreliable at the moment (they are both young and both learning from their losses), and no one else in the bullpen who can tolerate the pressure of late-inning, lead-protecting situations, the Rays either have to write the season off--or go into the market before the July 31 trade deadline. Makes sense.
It also makes sense that they are going to have to give up some of their prized minor league talent to get the closer they need. Tit for tat. I say bite the bullet. Give up a promising player or two to get the sort of pitcher who can turn things around. Shop for a life line and save the season.
No comments:
Post a Comment