Rays 9, Indians 6
Record: 79-58
Attendance: 13,327. Tropicana Field
The Cleveland Indians are half a game ahead of Tampa and Oakland for the AL wild card, but the Rays just finished beating the Tribe up, 9-6 on Saturday and 4-0 on Friday, thus making a point to the American League. They're in it to win it.
Will they? That depends on whether or not they can continue playing as they have in recent days, as they have for long stretches of the season, as they did in April. Or will they revert back to the dark days of June-July and long stretches when they haven't scored runs in so many innings that it was hard to count them up.
But when they get the pitching they are so proud of, as they have recently, when their hitters hammer out singles, doubles, and homers, as they have recently, and when the defense hits another high watermark, as it did Saturday, then there is no question they will be a postseason presence.
In Saturday's game, opener Diego Castillo, who gets chance after chance, failed again, giving up three hits including a homer and two runs in all. Jalen Beeks, who has also failed to perform well recently, pitched three scoreless innings for the win, 6-3. Standbys Drake, Anderson, and Roe kept the Tribe hitless for two and a third more. But manager Kevin Cash called on newcomer Ricardo Pinto, who no doubt suffered first-game jitters. It was a good spot to introduce the new guy to late season pressure games because there was little pressure at the time with the score 9-2. But an inning and a third later the score was 9-6 and Cash had to bring in Emilio Pagan (who says he isn't the closer?) to get the last two outs--and his 16th save.
The offense was in sync all night with 11 hits and home runs from Choi (13), Pham (20), Garcia (18), and d'Arnaud (15).
But it was the defense that drew the most gasps, especially in the third with Francisco Lindor on first and a ball hit off the wall in left. Lindor was off on contact. Pham played the ball off the wall but was running toward center field, requiring him to make a full turn to throw the ball into the infield. Kiermaier was right there too, so Pham jumped out of the way at the last second giving Kiermaier a chance to throw the ball into Joey Wendle, who was playing short. In one movement Wendle caught the ball, pivoted, and pegged it in to d'Arnaud, who short-hopped it and tagged the speedy Lindor on the ankle. It was spectacular, enough to light a fire under the team the rest of the way out. Maybe it was enough to light a fire for the rest of the month.
September 1 call ups. The big names are Nate Lowe and Daniel Robertson, but others were called up too: relievers Pete Fairbanks and Hoby Milner, and catcher Michael Perez. And it won't be long before we see Anthony Banda, Jose De Leon, Brendan McKay, and maybe Aaron Slegers, according to Marc Topkin in the Tampa Bay Times. Trustworthy Rays through large chunks of the season, Mike Brosseau and Guillermo Heredia, will both be back with the club soon now.
And then there is Tyler Glasnow, who has been shut down three and a half months with an elbow issue. His rehab work is just about complete and a return to the mound may come as soon as this week. Blake Snell's return is also possible.
September does indeed have meaningful games to be played, which is all any of us could have hoped for back in February. Now all the boys have to do is finish the job!
Friday, August 30. Game 136: Pruitt and pen shut out Tribe
Rays 4, Indians 0
Record: 78-58
Attendance: 15,294. Tropicana Field
Austin Pruitt, up and down nine times from the minors so far this season, was in unfamiliar territory Friday night when he was called on to start against the Cleveland Indians. All he did was throw five and a third scoreless innings giving up only four hits, no walks, and striking out six. That damn near makes him the ace of the staff right now--with apologies to Charlie Morton and Ryan Yarbrough.
Unfortunately, Pruitt was gone by the seventh inning when Avisail Garcia singled through the left side to drive in the fist run of the game. Before the inning was over, Jesus Aguilar pulled an outside pitch over the left field fence for a three-run homer making the final score 4-0. Timely hitting, some would say, while others might point out they were held scoreless in the rest of the innings and had eight hits in all.
Following Pruitt were Oliver Drake, the beneficiary of the seventh inning outburst and winner of the game (3-1), Colin Poche, and Andrew Kittredge--all yeomen shutout relievers.
Jose De Leon was sent down to Durham after the game, and righty reliever Ricardo Pinto was called up, having put together 123 and a third innings at the Double A and Triple A levels this year, according to the Tampa Bay Times. On Saturday the first, rosters can be expanded, which will bring new options to Manager Kevin Cash's pitching, hitting, fielding, and base running arsenals. Every game is critical at this point in the season, so Cash will have to find the right formula night by night if he hopes to manage the Rays into the playoffs. Should be fun if it doesn't kill us first.
Record: 78-58
Attendance: 15,294. Tropicana Field
Austin Pruitt, up and down nine times from the minors so far this season, was in unfamiliar territory Friday night when he was called on to start against the Cleveland Indians. All he did was throw five and a third scoreless innings giving up only four hits, no walks, and striking out six. That damn near makes him the ace of the staff right now--with apologies to Charlie Morton and Ryan Yarbrough.
Unfortunately, Pruitt was gone by the seventh inning when Avisail Garcia singled through the left side to drive in the fist run of the game. Before the inning was over, Jesus Aguilar pulled an outside pitch over the left field fence for a three-run homer making the final score 4-0. Timely hitting, some would say, while others might point out they were held scoreless in the rest of the innings and had eight hits in all.
Following Pruitt were Oliver Drake, the beneficiary of the seventh inning outburst and winner of the game (3-1), Colin Poche, and Andrew Kittredge--all yeomen shutout relievers.
Jose De Leon was sent down to Durham after the game, and righty reliever Ricardo Pinto was called up, having put together 123 and a third innings at the Double A and Triple A levels this year, according to the Tampa Bay Times. On Saturday the first, rosters can be expanded, which will bring new options to Manager Kevin Cash's pitching, hitting, fielding, and base running arsenals. Every game is critical at this point in the season, so Cash will have to find the right formula night by night if he hopes to manage the Rays into the playoffs. Should be fun if it doesn't kill us first.
Thursday, August 29. Game 135: Rays Up! 9-8. Kick Astro Asses
Rays 9, Astros 8
Record: 77-58
Attendance: 33,051. Minute Maid Park
The Rays scored in six of the nine innings on Thursday, piled up 14 hits, and came from behind three times to win a very crucial game three against the Astros, 9-8. In the process, they also avoided a three-game sweep; in fact, the more realistic way to look at the series is that they managed to take one of the games, which some would have thought is about all they could reasonably have hoped for against these Monster Astros.
And they beat new Astro Zack Greinke--well, he didn't take the loss, but the Rays did rough him up to the tune of six hits, one walk, two HRs, and five runs in five and two-thirds. And they weren't very respectful to Gerrit Cole the night before either, scoring four runs off him in six and two-thirds. A third loss in a row would have buried the Rays, but they found some inner strength, rallied, picked up momentum, and now face new hope against the Cleveland Indians.
But when your pitching staff gives up eight runs on eight hits and ten walks, five by Colin Poche in the fifth inning, something has gone wrong. All told Rays pitchers walked three runs in. But fortunately they got a gutsy performance from Emilio Pagan, who got the final seven outs for his 15th save. They got home runs from Austin Meadows (24) and Travis d'Arnaud (14) and clutch hitting from Ji-Man Choi (two RBIs). All season long these players have been by turns brilliant and brutal--it is just impossible to guess which team will take the field on any given day or night.
It's a crap shoot again on Friday night against the red-hot Cleveland Indians. Are the Rays really in the post-season hunt? It hardly seems possible after the last five games that the Rays are going to be relevant in late September. But if everything falls just right, and the Rays put the right team on the field for the next month, it could happen. Maybe.
Wednesday, August 28. Game 134: Hits and runs--but not enough. Rays drop another to the Astros
Rays 6, Astros 8
Record: 76-58
Attendance: 25,539 Minute Maid Park
The Rays offense came to life Wednesday against the Astros, scoring six runs in four innings, including homers from Ji-Man Choi and Willy Adames. They even had the lead, twice, before Diego Castillo gave up three hits and a walk, good for three runs, in his one inning of work in the seventh. Oliver Drake gave up a pair of runs in the eighth giving up three hits and two walks. By the end of the game, the sloppy relievers managed to turn a potential victory into an 8-6 defeat--and in the process wasted another very fine start by Ryan Yarbrough, who gave up three runs in six innings.
One encouraging sign was the healthy hitting off one of the stars of the Houston staff, Gerrit Cole, who lasted six and two-thirds and gave up four runs, but struck out 14. (Astro pitchers struck out 19 in all.) It wasn't quite enough to beat the Astros, but it was the first game in a while that Rays hitters had a little fun at the plate.
Manager Kevin Cash added pitcher Jose De Leon to the roster, but to make room he optioned Mike Brosseau to Durham. Brosseau has had some key hits over the last six weeks, and for a team always looking for offensive sparks, he was a welcome addition to the lineup.
The loss was the fourth in a row for the Rays, and with the Astros coming up again on Thursday, the losses could hit five in a row, which would match the Rays longest losing streak of the season.
Record: 76-58
Attendance: 25,539 Minute Maid Park
The Rays offense came to life Wednesday against the Astros, scoring six runs in four innings, including homers from Ji-Man Choi and Willy Adames. They even had the lead, twice, before Diego Castillo gave up three hits and a walk, good for three runs, in his one inning of work in the seventh. Oliver Drake gave up a pair of runs in the eighth giving up three hits and two walks. By the end of the game, the sloppy relievers managed to turn a potential victory into an 8-6 defeat--and in the process wasted another very fine start by Ryan Yarbrough, who gave up three runs in six innings.
One encouraging sign was the healthy hitting off one of the stars of the Houston staff, Gerrit Cole, who lasted six and two-thirds and gave up four runs, but struck out 14. (Astro pitchers struck out 19 in all.) It wasn't quite enough to beat the Astros, but it was the first game in a while that Rays hitters had a little fun at the plate.
Manager Kevin Cash added pitcher Jose De Leon to the roster, but to make room he optioned Mike Brosseau to Durham. Brosseau has had some key hits over the last six weeks, and for a team always looking for offensive sparks, he was a welcome addition to the lineup.
The loss was the fourth in a row for the Rays, and with the Astros coming up again on Thursday, the losses could hit five in a row, which would match the Rays longest losing streak of the season.
Tuesday, August 27. Game 133. Astros 15, Rays 1: Season-ending embarrassment?
Rays 1, Astros 15
Record: 76-57
Attendance: 28,454. Minute Maid Park
The Rays may be pardoned if panic has set in after being completely dominated in a showdown game against a premier team in MLB, one that stands a very good chance of winning it all this season. They couldn't measure up in any facet of the game.
It was so bad that infielder Mike Brosseau was called on to pitch two innings--and had better pitching stats than any of the three other real pitchers used by manager Kevin Cash. Loser Charlie Morton (13-6) lasted four innings giving up seven hits, one homer, two walks, and six earned runs; Andrew Kittredge gave up three runs in his inning, and Chaz Roe gave up five in his. Brosseau only gave up one run in his two innings, though by then Astro hitters may have let up a little in their at-bats.
In all it was a season-ending embarrassment. The mercy rule should have been called after the sixth, for by then the Astros had scored two, four, three, and five runs in four consecutive innings. The Rays don't have an answer for Astro hitting or pitching. They should consider forfeiting the next two games and heading back to Tampa to try their luck against the Cleveland Indians.
For those keeping track, after Tuesday's game, the Rays added eight more scoreless innings to their recent struggles at the plate. They've only managed to score in five of their last 36 innings.
The human interest story was Charlie Morton's return to Minute Maid Park where he had helped the team to the World Series and remains beloved. There was gushing sentiment spilling out everywhere in pre-game ceremonies, a feel-good story that will be remembered and not soon outdone. Then the game started and the Astros beat the crap out of their old pal.
Record: 76-57
Attendance: 28,454. Minute Maid Park
The Rays may be pardoned if panic has set in after being completely dominated in a showdown game against a premier team in MLB, one that stands a very good chance of winning it all this season. They couldn't measure up in any facet of the game.
It was so bad that infielder Mike Brosseau was called on to pitch two innings--and had better pitching stats than any of the three other real pitchers used by manager Kevin Cash. Loser Charlie Morton (13-6) lasted four innings giving up seven hits, one homer, two walks, and six earned runs; Andrew Kittredge gave up three runs in his inning, and Chaz Roe gave up five in his. Brosseau only gave up one run in his two innings, though by then Astro hitters may have let up a little in their at-bats.
In all it was a season-ending embarrassment. The mercy rule should have been called after the sixth, for by then the Astros had scored two, four, three, and five runs in four consecutive innings. The Rays don't have an answer for Astro hitting or pitching. They should consider forfeiting the next two games and heading back to Tampa to try their luck against the Cleveland Indians.
For those keeping track, after Tuesday's game, the Rays added eight more scoreless innings to their recent struggles at the plate. They've only managed to score in five of their last 36 innings.
The human interest story was Charlie Morton's return to Minute Maid Park where he had helped the team to the World Series and remains beloved. There was gushing sentiment spilling out everywhere in pre-game ceremonies, a feel-good story that will be remembered and not soon outdone. Then the game started and the Astros beat the crap out of their old pal.
Sunday, August 25. Game 132: Hitters slumping again.
Rays 3, Orioles 8
Record: 76-56
Attendance: 13,287. Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Having won the first two of the four-game set against the lowly Orioles, it seemed a good bet that the Rays would win at least one of the remaining two to take the series three games to one. This was also the last of the easy stretch when they could fatten up their won-lost record before taking on the Astros and Indians in the next couple of series. They neglected to tell the Orioles their plans, however, with the result that the nothing-to-lose Orioles came out swinging for the second day in a row (16 hits) and beat the Rays 8-3. They scored in five of the nine innings.
So the Rays settled for a 2-2 series split, but the bad news doesn't quite end there. They have been a streaky offensive team all year, and so it shouldn't come as a total surprise, though it is a total disappointment, that for the last three games of this series, the Rays didn't score a run in 23 of 27 innings. It looks like they are back in the throes of their hitting woes. Again. But with the Astros up next, their timing might be bad enough to bury them once and for all in this up and sown season.
Notable in Sunday's game is that Diego Castillo opened the game and gave up three hits and a run in two innings. Continuing that level of inefficiency, Jalen Weeks piled up more of his own string of bad outings going five innings and giving up 11 hits, 2 walks, and seven earned runs. It was a rout.
If the Rays can't count on either their pitching or hitting for their last 30 games, their dreams of a playoff spot will go up in smoke. In fact, if you turn your head up, you might get a whiff of burning dreams right now.
Record: 76-56
Attendance: 13,287. Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Having won the first two of the four-game set against the lowly Orioles, it seemed a good bet that the Rays would win at least one of the remaining two to take the series three games to one. This was also the last of the easy stretch when they could fatten up their won-lost record before taking on the Astros and Indians in the next couple of series. They neglected to tell the Orioles their plans, however, with the result that the nothing-to-lose Orioles came out swinging for the second day in a row (16 hits) and beat the Rays 8-3. They scored in five of the nine innings.
So the Rays settled for a 2-2 series split, but the bad news doesn't quite end there. They have been a streaky offensive team all year, and so it shouldn't come as a total surprise, though it is a total disappointment, that for the last three games of this series, the Rays didn't score a run in 23 of 27 innings. It looks like they are back in the throes of their hitting woes. Again. But with the Astros up next, their timing might be bad enough to bury them once and for all in this up and sown season.
Notable in Sunday's game is that Diego Castillo opened the game and gave up three hits and a run in two innings. Continuing that level of inefficiency, Jalen Weeks piled up more of his own string of bad outings going five innings and giving up 11 hits, 2 walks, and seven earned runs. It was a rout.
If the Rays can't count on either their pitching or hitting for their last 30 games, their dreams of a playoff spot will go up in smoke. In fact, if you turn your head up, you might get a whiff of burning dreams right now.
Saturday, August 24. Game 131: Playoffs seem unlikely after loss to Orioles.
Rays 1, Orioles 7
Record: 76-55
Attendance: 11,409. Oriole Park at Camden Yards
In a mirror image of Friday night's game in which the Rays beat the Orioles 7-1, the big blow being a Grand Slam, on Saturday the Orioles beat the Rays by the same score with the big blow being a Grand Slam. It was like the same game being played in an alternate Universe.
In Friday night's game, it was Trevor Richards and Aaron Slegers giving the Rays' staff a much-needed lift and a whiff of hope for the last 31 games of the year, a stretch where they will be playing some of the better teams in baseball.
On Saturday night, opener Jose Alvarado and bulk man Austin Pruitt buried the Rays. Alvarado lasted a third of an inning giving up one hit, three walks, a run-scoring wild pitch, and one run. He said he felt fine during his ineffective stint, but after the game he complained to a trainer that he had elbow pain. Manager Kevin Cash did not exactly dispute his strong-armed lefty, but said after the game that neither he nor anyone on his staff know of an injury until the game was over, according to Marc Topkin in the Tampa Bay Times. "I don't think the injury had anything to do with [Saturday's] performance. I don't." Alvarado was immediately placed on the IR and sent for tests back in Tampa.
Alvarado's season has been disappointing, even disastrous. Early successes made him the all-but-officially-announced closer, but then he began losing games and becoming undependable. Then he left the team for personal reasons, had a stint on the IL and never recovered the formula for his early successes. At this point he seems not just out of the picture for the remainder of this season, but he may have tested the team's patience once too often. He is certainly a major cause for the problems that beset this team which has not consistently played at the top of the market. His raw talent may get him a return opportunity next season, but don't be surprised if the Rays get rid of him before that.
Pruitt pitched five and two-thirds giving up five hits, one walk, and six runs, the big one coming from Pedro Severino's Grand Slam in the third.
It's hard to imagine how Saturday's game could have gone worse for this team that still has a real shot at the playoffs. Theoretically. It's just a silly pipe dream, however, if they continue to play the way they did today.
Record: 76-55
Attendance: 11,409. Oriole Park at Camden Yards
In a mirror image of Friday night's game in which the Rays beat the Orioles 7-1, the big blow being a Grand Slam, on Saturday the Orioles beat the Rays by the same score with the big blow being a Grand Slam. It was like the same game being played in an alternate Universe.
In Friday night's game, it was Trevor Richards and Aaron Slegers giving the Rays' staff a much-needed lift and a whiff of hope for the last 31 games of the year, a stretch where they will be playing some of the better teams in baseball.
On Saturday night, opener Jose Alvarado and bulk man Austin Pruitt buried the Rays. Alvarado lasted a third of an inning giving up one hit, three walks, a run-scoring wild pitch, and one run. He said he felt fine during his ineffective stint, but after the game he complained to a trainer that he had elbow pain. Manager Kevin Cash did not exactly dispute his strong-armed lefty, but said after the game that neither he nor anyone on his staff know of an injury until the game was over, according to Marc Topkin in the Tampa Bay Times. "I don't think the injury had anything to do with [Saturday's] performance. I don't." Alvarado was immediately placed on the IR and sent for tests back in Tampa.
Alvarado's season has been disappointing, even disastrous. Early successes made him the all-but-officially-announced closer, but then he began losing games and becoming undependable. Then he left the team for personal reasons, had a stint on the IL and never recovered the formula for his early successes. At this point he seems not just out of the picture for the remainder of this season, but he may have tested the team's patience once too often. He is certainly a major cause for the problems that beset this team which has not consistently played at the top of the market. His raw talent may get him a return opportunity next season, but don't be surprised if the Rays get rid of him before that.
Pruitt pitched five and two-thirds giving up five hits, one walk, and six runs, the big one coming from Pedro Severino's Grand Slam in the third.
It's hard to imagine how Saturday's game could have gone worse for this team that still has a real shot at the playoffs. Theoretically. It's just a silly pipe dream, however, if they continue to play the way they did today.
Friday, August 23. Game 130: Meadows, Richards, and Slegers. Win 76.
Rays 7, Orioles 1
Record: 76-54
Attendance: 14,762. Orioles Park at Camden Yards
The Rays won by six runs Friday night, but they went scoreless in eight of nine innings.
An easy win was welcome, but all those goose eggs were worrisome. Their big second inning didn't begin with fireworks. There were a couple of walks, three singles, a double, one defensive lapse--and then, with three runs already in, a hot-hitting Austin Meadows, with eight homers in 20 games, launched the first Grand Slam of his career. It was only then that the Rays resumed the run of scoreless innings they seem to fall into with more regularity than anyone likes to see.
The total effect was more than enough to shut the Orioles down completely, and the loss officially made them the first team in the majors to be eliminated from post-season play. The loss was also their 12th in a row against an AL East team, according to the Baltimore Sun, a stretch during which they have been outscored 103-50. These are hard days for a great franchise, and the Rays are forced to pile on at this point as they chase a post season spot for the first time since 2013.
On the mound for the Rays on Friday was an unknown combo who gave the regular staff a well-deserved day off. The starter was Trevor Richards, who came over to the Rays with Nick Anderson at the trade deadline. Anderson has established himself as a key arm in the bullpen, but Richards needed a little fine tuning in Durham before being dropped into Kevin Cash's patched-up pitching corps. It's too soon to say for sure, but the early returns on Richards from Friday are good: six innings, no runs, two hits, a single walk and five strikeouts.
More astoundingly, the six foot ten, 26-year-old reliever Aaron Slegers, pitched the last three innings and earned the save. He started five games and relieved in three others for the Minnesota Twins in 2017 and 2018, compiling a 1-2 record with no saves. On Friday night he earned his first save, giving the bullpen the night off--and was immediately sent back down to Durham after the game. But with Kevin Cash, you never know. Don't be surprised if you see Slegers back in a Rays uniform in a day or two.
Avisail Garcia was activated from the IL, and the valuable spare outfielder Guillermo Heredia was sent down to triple A Durham.
Record: 76-54
Attendance: 14,762. Orioles Park at Camden Yards
The Rays won by six runs Friday night, but they went scoreless in eight of nine innings.
An easy win was welcome, but all those goose eggs were worrisome. Their big second inning didn't begin with fireworks. There were a couple of walks, three singles, a double, one defensive lapse--and then, with three runs already in, a hot-hitting Austin Meadows, with eight homers in 20 games, launched the first Grand Slam of his career. It was only then that the Rays resumed the run of scoreless innings they seem to fall into with more regularity than anyone likes to see.
The total effect was more than enough to shut the Orioles down completely, and the loss officially made them the first team in the majors to be eliminated from post-season play. The loss was also their 12th in a row against an AL East team, according to the Baltimore Sun, a stretch during which they have been outscored 103-50. These are hard days for a great franchise, and the Rays are forced to pile on at this point as they chase a post season spot for the first time since 2013.
On the mound for the Rays on Friday was an unknown combo who gave the regular staff a well-deserved day off. The starter was Trevor Richards, who came over to the Rays with Nick Anderson at the trade deadline. Anderson has established himself as a key arm in the bullpen, but Richards needed a little fine tuning in Durham before being dropped into Kevin Cash's patched-up pitching corps. It's too soon to say for sure, but the early returns on Richards from Friday are good: six innings, no runs, two hits, a single walk and five strikeouts.
More astoundingly, the six foot ten, 26-year-old reliever Aaron Slegers, pitched the last three innings and earned the save. He started five games and relieved in three others for the Minnesota Twins in 2017 and 2018, compiling a 1-2 record with no saves. On Friday night he earned his first save, giving the bullpen the night off--and was immediately sent back down to Durham after the game. But with Kevin Cash, you never know. Don't be surprised if you see Slegers back in a Rays uniform in a day or two.
Avisail Garcia was activated from the IL, and the valuable spare outfielder Guillermo Heredia was sent down to triple A Durham.
Thursday, August 22. Game 129. After a 2:16 minute rain delay, the Rays win.
Rays 5, Orioles 2
Record: 75-54
Attendance: 8,153. Oriole Park at Camden Yards
There was some doubt if this game would go into the books at all because it was delayed for over two hours before the bottom of the fifth could be concluded. If the game had been called at that point, it would have been rescheduled. And judging by the downpour at Camden Yards during the delay, it wasn't at all clear play would ever be resumed.
The score was tied two all when the umpires ordered the tarp on the infield. Perhaps the most relieved person on the field when play was resumed was Willy Adames, who committed two errors in the first inning and hit a solo homer in the fifth, his 16th, to tie the game up. The Rays other early run came in the third on a solo HR by Austin Meadows, his 22nd.
And then they waited two hours and 16 minutes before resuming play.
When Adames knocked in Jesus Aguilar and Matt Duffy in the sixth, the score was 4-2, then went up to 5-2 when Meadows scored on a wild pitch. The official crowd was put at 8,153, but only a few stalwart Oriole fans (gluttons for punishment) were still around for the 27th out at one a.m.
Ryan Yarbrough pitched well up to the delay and was followed by Oliver Drake for an inning and a third (and the win), plus cameos for the regular suspects in a Kevin Cash game this year: Poche, Roe, Alvarado, Anderson, and finally Emilio Pagan, who got his 14th save.
It was messy, interrupted, and six hours long, but at the end of the day, it was the Rays 75th win. The boys are lowering their heads and bulling their way through the remaining schedule. They need 19 more games to reach 94 wins, which is probably a safe number to get into the playoffs, but they will be against teams like Houston, Cleveland, both Los Angeles teams, Boston, and New York. It ain't over yet, not by a long shot.
Record: 75-54
Attendance: 8,153. Oriole Park at Camden Yards
There was some doubt if this game would go into the books at all because it was delayed for over two hours before the bottom of the fifth could be concluded. If the game had been called at that point, it would have been rescheduled. And judging by the downpour at Camden Yards during the delay, it wasn't at all clear play would ever be resumed.
The score was tied two all when the umpires ordered the tarp on the infield. Perhaps the most relieved person on the field when play was resumed was Willy Adames, who committed two errors in the first inning and hit a solo homer in the fifth, his 16th, to tie the game up. The Rays other early run came in the third on a solo HR by Austin Meadows, his 22nd.
And then they waited two hours and 16 minutes before resuming play.
When Adames knocked in Jesus Aguilar and Matt Duffy in the sixth, the score was 4-2, then went up to 5-2 when Meadows scored on a wild pitch. The official crowd was put at 8,153, but only a few stalwart Oriole fans (gluttons for punishment) were still around for the 27th out at one a.m.
Ryan Yarbrough pitched well up to the delay and was followed by Oliver Drake for an inning and a third (and the win), plus cameos for the regular suspects in a Kevin Cash game this year: Poche, Roe, Alvarado, Anderson, and finally Emilio Pagan, who got his 14th save.
It was messy, interrupted, and six hours long, but at the end of the day, it was the Rays 75th win. The boys are lowering their heads and bulling their way through the remaining schedule. They need 19 more games to reach 94 wins, which is probably a safe number to get into the playoffs, but they will be against teams like Houston, Cleveland, both Los Angeles teams, Boston, and New York. It ain't over yet, not by a long shot.
Wednesday, August 21. Game 128: One for the highlight reel.
Rays 7, Mariners 6
Record: 74-54
Attendance: 7,827. Tropicana Field
The Seattle Mariners, who got off to a great start this season but then went into a three-month slump, have shown sparks of life lately. The were 6-3 in their last nine and on Wednesday afternoon after scoring three clutch runs in the top of the ninth, they had a 7-3 record in sight for their last ten games. The sparse crowd of 7,827 at Tropicana Field began to thin out.
Suddenly on the losing side of a 6-5 decision, Kevin Kiermaier led off the bottom of the ninth and fell behind, 0-2. Then he took three balls and fouled a couple off, and on a full count, he launched a 437-foot home run to dead center to tie the game. The stadium was just like that re-energized. Willy Adames singled to left, Michael Brosseau doubled to left, Ji-Man Choi was given an intentional pass, and on a 1-2 count on Tommy Pham, Mariner reliever Matt Magill threw a fifty-five-foot curve ball into the dirt. It bounced off catcher Omar Narvaez and sped off toward the Mariner dugout while Adames scored the winning run.
The Mariners hope for a 7-3 record over the last ten games, capped by a three-game sweep of the Rays, all went up in smoke as the Rays took their second walk-off win on a wild pitch this month. The Rays showed once again that though they have plenty of problems, they are not to be taken lightly. They fight for every one of their 27 outs.
In Wednesday's game, they were ahead 2-0 after three, then down 3-2, then up 4-3 and 5-3, then down 6-5, and finally up 7-6. In the end it was the last team to hit that won the game. The Rays collected 11 hits in all, homers from Guillermo Heredia and Kiermaier, a 3 for 3 night for Travis d'Arnaud (who seems recovered from his mini-slump), and a four RBI splurge from Kiermaier, the hero of the game.
Charlie Morton started the game and got through five innings giving up three runs on four hits and two walks through 99 pitches. With so many lead changes, it's hardly surprising that he didn't figure in the decision. He was followed by Colin Poche for two good innings with three strikeouts. In the eighth Nick Anderson came in and it seemed the Rays had something going: Anderson in the eighth and Emilio Pagan in the ninth, the new power pair of closers But Anderson, who has 18 strikeouts in nine innings, allowed a bloop single that Kiermaier couldn't hold on to, which seemed to rattle Anderson a little as for the first time this year, he got no strikeouts.
But the game still seemed to be safely in the win column when Pagan came in with a two-run lead and a recent run of solid saves. His first hitter was Mariner slugger Daniel Vogelbach, who promptly put a ball in the right field stands, his 28th. Then, with two on, Pagan gave Mallex Smith a pitch he could turn on, which turned into a triple that scored two runs and took the lead. Pagan blew the save, and was in line to take the loss, when the Rays went on their own late rampage, which turned Pagan into the winning pitcher.
All in all, it was a great day at the ball park. The Rays continue to hang tough even though they show the weaknesses in their roster all too often. They're good, but how good remains the question, the same question we've been asking from the beginning of the season. They will continue to be the long shot of the 2019 post-season, if they manage to make it.
Record: 74-54
Attendance: 7,827. Tropicana Field
The Seattle Mariners, who got off to a great start this season but then went into a three-month slump, have shown sparks of life lately. The were 6-3 in their last nine and on Wednesday afternoon after scoring three clutch runs in the top of the ninth, they had a 7-3 record in sight for their last ten games. The sparse crowd of 7,827 at Tropicana Field began to thin out.
Suddenly on the losing side of a 6-5 decision, Kevin Kiermaier led off the bottom of the ninth and fell behind, 0-2. Then he took three balls and fouled a couple off, and on a full count, he launched a 437-foot home run to dead center to tie the game. The stadium was just like that re-energized. Willy Adames singled to left, Michael Brosseau doubled to left, Ji-Man Choi was given an intentional pass, and on a 1-2 count on Tommy Pham, Mariner reliever Matt Magill threw a fifty-five-foot curve ball into the dirt. It bounced off catcher Omar Narvaez and sped off toward the Mariner dugout while Adames scored the winning run.
The Mariners hope for a 7-3 record over the last ten games, capped by a three-game sweep of the Rays, all went up in smoke as the Rays took their second walk-off win on a wild pitch this month. The Rays showed once again that though they have plenty of problems, they are not to be taken lightly. They fight for every one of their 27 outs.
In Wednesday's game, they were ahead 2-0 after three, then down 3-2, then up 4-3 and 5-3, then down 6-5, and finally up 7-6. In the end it was the last team to hit that won the game. The Rays collected 11 hits in all, homers from Guillermo Heredia and Kiermaier, a 3 for 3 night for Travis d'Arnaud (who seems recovered from his mini-slump), and a four RBI splurge from Kiermaier, the hero of the game.
Charlie Morton started the game and got through five innings giving up three runs on four hits and two walks through 99 pitches. With so many lead changes, it's hardly surprising that he didn't figure in the decision. He was followed by Colin Poche for two good innings with three strikeouts. In the eighth Nick Anderson came in and it seemed the Rays had something going: Anderson in the eighth and Emilio Pagan in the ninth, the new power pair of closers But Anderson, who has 18 strikeouts in nine innings, allowed a bloop single that Kiermaier couldn't hold on to, which seemed to rattle Anderson a little as for the first time this year, he got no strikeouts.
But the game still seemed to be safely in the win column when Pagan came in with a two-run lead and a recent run of solid saves. His first hitter was Mariner slugger Daniel Vogelbach, who promptly put a ball in the right field stands, his 28th. Then, with two on, Pagan gave Mallex Smith a pitch he could turn on, which turned into a triple that scored two runs and took the lead. Pagan blew the save, and was in line to take the loss, when the Rays went on their own late rampage, which turned Pagan into the winning pitcher.
All in all, it was a great day at the ball park. The Rays continue to hang tough even though they show the weaknesses in their roster all too often. They're good, but how good remains the question, the same question we've been asking from the beginning of the season. They will continue to be the long shot of the 2019 post-season, if they manage to make it.
Tuesday, August 20. Game 127: Another lackluster loss.
Rays 4, Mariners 7
Record: 73-54
Attendance: 7,455
The Rays lost another game they were never really in, 7-4, with the Mariners taking them to school on timely hitting, mostly from one of the hottest bats in the league, Kyle Seager, who hit a two-run homer off Diego Castillo in the first inning and a run-scoring double in the seventh. The Rays answered back with two runs in the second and fourth on a single, a couple of fielders' choices, and a double by Kevin Kiermaier. Then they fell into five scoreless innings, which was so normal that it seemed right.
If there was an offensive star, it would have to be Willy Adames, who had three of the team's eight hits and scored two runs.
Diego Castillo gave up the Seager homer, and Jalen Beeks gave up four more runs in his five innings (4 hits and three walks) to take the loss (5-3). Just called-up Hoby Milner pitched two innings. The 28-year-old rookie southpaw with a sidearm delivery, gave up two hits, a walk, and a run--and that was the game. The Rays looked a little weary and uninspired, but it would be good for their playoff ambitions if they could maybe just a little show some life out there.
Maybe it will happen Wednesday afternoon, when Charlie Morton pitches again--the same Morton the Rays' offense has hung out to dry for his last two spectacular performances.
Record: 73-54
Attendance: 7,455
The Rays lost another game they were never really in, 7-4, with the Mariners taking them to school on timely hitting, mostly from one of the hottest bats in the league, Kyle Seager, who hit a two-run homer off Diego Castillo in the first inning and a run-scoring double in the seventh. The Rays answered back with two runs in the second and fourth on a single, a couple of fielders' choices, and a double by Kevin Kiermaier. Then they fell into five scoreless innings, which was so normal that it seemed right.
If there was an offensive star, it would have to be Willy Adames, who had three of the team's eight hits and scored two runs.
Diego Castillo gave up the Seager homer, and Jalen Beeks gave up four more runs in his five innings (4 hits and three walks) to take the loss (5-3). Just called-up Hoby Milner pitched two innings. The 28-year-old rookie southpaw with a sidearm delivery, gave up two hits, a walk, and a run--and that was the game. The Rays looked a little weary and uninspired, but it would be good for their playoff ambitions if they could maybe just a little show some life out there.
Maybe it will happen Wednesday afternoon, when Charlie Morton pitches again--the same Morton the Rays' offense has hung out to dry for his last two spectacular performances.
Monday, August 19. Game 126: McKay optioned to Durham after 9-3 blowout
Rays 3, Mariners 9
Record: 72-52
Attendance: 9,152
The Rays took one on the chin Monday night, falling to the Mariners 9-3, but the story line was not the loss, bad is it is for their long term chances of getting into the playoffs, but rather it is the wretched work of rookie pitcher Brendan McKay, who lasted two innings, giving up three hits (two were homers), three walks, and seven runs (three earned). After the game, the Rays sent him down to Durham.
McKay's problems are very likely the result of a very busy year for the young man. He was promoted from Class AA ball to Class AAA and then, with the Rays starting pitching razor thin, he was brought up to big leagues. He made his debut on July 29 against the Texas Rangers and went six excellent innings, which may have been misleading. Certainly it wasn't fair to think of the kid as the savior for the 2019 starting rotation.
There was talk at the time of his call-up that the 23-year-year, the number four all-around pick in the 2017 draft, had never thrown so many innings as he had this year, which was a worry as he began pitching in the big leagues. The Rays handled him gently, sending him down to Durham between some starts and eventually settling on a six-day rotation for him. The idea was not to tax him too much in this his first exposure to major league hitters.
But McKay continued to impress after his first game against the Rangers. On July 5 he pitched five innings against the Yankees, giving up three runs in a game they lost in the 11th, 8-4. In his next game against the Orioles on July 13, he pitched five scoreless innings striking out 7 and walking none. The first sign of trouble came against the White Sox on the 19th when he lasted three and a third giving up 10 hits and six runs in a 9-2 loss. On August 1, he rebounded against the Red Sox winning his second game, posting five and a third innings and three runs on seven hits and one walk. He struck out a season high eight men.
But the last three outings with six day intervals beginning on August 7, when he gave up four early runs and lost the game 4-3, six hits, one walk, two HRs, got progressively worse. On the 13th against the Padres, he only lasted four innings, giving up five hits, six walks, and four earned runs. Hoping McKay had bottomed out and was due for another good outing, the Rays started him against the Seattle Mariners on Monday night, but it turned out to be his worst outing yet: seven runs in two innings on a pair of homers plus three hits and three walks. In the eight games he has pitched this year, his ERA climbed from 1.69 to 5.55.
It seems reasonable to conclude that McKay, who has been running fast through three levels of professional baseball this summer, may well have hit his innings max for 2019. Maybe the best plan is to shut him down before an injury shuts him down. Maybe the best thing for him and the team is for them to get together again when pitchers and catchers show up in February 2020.
Record: 72-52
Attendance: 9,152
The Rays took one on the chin Monday night, falling to the Mariners 9-3, but the story line was not the loss, bad is it is for their long term chances of getting into the playoffs, but rather it is the wretched work of rookie pitcher Brendan McKay, who lasted two innings, giving up three hits (two were homers), three walks, and seven runs (three earned). After the game, the Rays sent him down to Durham.
McKay's problems are very likely the result of a very busy year for the young man. He was promoted from Class AA ball to Class AAA and then, with the Rays starting pitching razor thin, he was brought up to big leagues. He made his debut on July 29 against the Texas Rangers and went six excellent innings, which may have been misleading. Certainly it wasn't fair to think of the kid as the savior for the 2019 starting rotation.
There was talk at the time of his call-up that the 23-year-year, the number four all-around pick in the 2017 draft, had never thrown so many innings as he had this year, which was a worry as he began pitching in the big leagues. The Rays handled him gently, sending him down to Durham between some starts and eventually settling on a six-day rotation for him. The idea was not to tax him too much in this his first exposure to major league hitters.
But McKay continued to impress after his first game against the Rangers. On July 5 he pitched five innings against the Yankees, giving up three runs in a game they lost in the 11th, 8-4. In his next game against the Orioles on July 13, he pitched five scoreless innings striking out 7 and walking none. The first sign of trouble came against the White Sox on the 19th when he lasted three and a third giving up 10 hits and six runs in a 9-2 loss. On August 1, he rebounded against the Red Sox winning his second game, posting five and a third innings and three runs on seven hits and one walk. He struck out a season high eight men.
But the last three outings with six day intervals beginning on August 7, when he gave up four early runs and lost the game 4-3, six hits, one walk, two HRs, got progressively worse. On the 13th against the Padres, he only lasted four innings, giving up five hits, six walks, and four earned runs. Hoping McKay had bottomed out and was due for another good outing, the Rays started him against the Seattle Mariners on Monday night, but it turned out to be his worst outing yet: seven runs in two innings on a pair of homers plus three hits and three walks. In the eight games he has pitched this year, his ERA climbed from 1.69 to 5.55.
It seems reasonable to conclude that McKay, who has been running fast through three levels of professional baseball this summer, may well have hit his innings max for 2019. Maybe the best plan is to shut him down before an injury shuts him down. Maybe the best thing for him and the team is for them to get together again when pitchers and catchers show up in February 2020.
Sunday, August 18. Game 125: Don't mess with the Rays at home! That's 2 in a row!
Rays 5, Tigers 4
Record: 73-52
Attendance: 17,228
Trevor Richards, who came over to the Rays from Miami at the trade deadline with Nick Anderson, started his first game as a Ray on Sunday afternoon. He pitched three and a third innings, giving up eight hits, one walk and two runs. The Rays got one run back in the bottom of the first on a Travis d'Arnaud sacrifice fly, thus scoring in two consecutive innings going back to the bottom of the 13th on Saturday. But then they relapsed into six more scoreless innings before Tommy Pham hit a two-run HR in the bottom of the eighth to narrow Detroit's lead to 4-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, d'Arnaud reached on an error, Willy Adames walked, Kevin Kiermaier tried to bunt the runners over but popped up instead, and Brosseau had an infield single to load the bases. Ji-Man Choi singled up the middle to drive in the tying and winning runs, the Rays second straight walk-off hit. The win went to Jose Alvarado, now 1-5, even though he walked two in the top of the ninth.
The Detroit Tigers with the worst record in ML baseball, weren't supposed to be this hard to beat, but they gave the Rays all they could handle for this weekend series, winning the first game 2-0 and losing the next two by one run, 1-0 in 13 innings and 5-4, which they lost in the bottom of the ninth. All things considered, the Rays will count their blessings, take their two out of three from the Tigers, and move on to play the Seattle Mariners at the Trop on Monday night. Brendan McKay will try once again for his third victory, facing off this time against Marco Gonzales (12-10, 4.26 ERA).
Record: 73-52
Attendance: 17,228
Trevor Richards, who came over to the Rays from Miami at the trade deadline with Nick Anderson, started his first game as a Ray on Sunday afternoon. He pitched three and a third innings, giving up eight hits, one walk and two runs. The Rays got one run back in the bottom of the first on a Travis d'Arnaud sacrifice fly, thus scoring in two consecutive innings going back to the bottom of the 13th on Saturday. But then they relapsed into six more scoreless innings before Tommy Pham hit a two-run HR in the bottom of the eighth to narrow Detroit's lead to 4-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, d'Arnaud reached on an error, Willy Adames walked, Kevin Kiermaier tried to bunt the runners over but popped up instead, and Brosseau had an infield single to load the bases. Ji-Man Choi singled up the middle to drive in the tying and winning runs, the Rays second straight walk-off hit. The win went to Jose Alvarado, now 1-5, even though he walked two in the top of the ninth.
The Detroit Tigers with the worst record in ML baseball, weren't supposed to be this hard to beat, but they gave the Rays all they could handle for this weekend series, winning the first game 2-0 and losing the next two by one run, 1-0 in 13 innings and 5-4, which they lost in the bottom of the ninth. All things considered, the Rays will count their blessings, take their two out of three from the Tigers, and move on to play the Seattle Mariners at the Trop on Monday night. Brendan McKay will try once again for his third victory, facing off this time against Marco Gonzales (12-10, 4.26 ERA).
Saturday, August 17. Game 124: 13 innings, one run--hope runs high..
Rays 1, Tigers 0 (13 innings)
Record: 72-52
Attendance: 17,228
The Rays went scoreless for twelve and two-thirds innings before Eric Sogard hit a ball off the right center field wall for a double, only the Rays' fifth hit of the night, and was then driven home by Michael Brosseau walk-off single to right center. Rays win! Whew!
Those twelve and two-thirds scoreless innings were futile in their own right, but the Rays hadn't scored the previous night either against the Tigers, nor in the last eight innings of the game before that in San Diego. In all they had gone 29 consecutive scoreless innings before powering home that game winner in the bottom of the 13th on Friday night.
The only reason the slumping offense managed to escape with a one-run victory was the magnificent pitching that didn't allow a single run all night. It began with starter Ryan Yarbrough, who pitched into the seventh inning and was followed by Roe, Anderson, Pagan, Castillo, and Poche, who got the W and is now 3-4.
How good was the parade of pictures? They struck out 24 Tigers, a Rays' record, and maybe even more amazingly, they didn't walk a single man. it was an incredible performance as each pitcher blanked the Tigers until Sogard and Brosseau finally broke the run drought--and won the game.
So the series is tied and tomorrow is the rubber match. Off the last two games, it should be a doozy. I'm ready for fireworks..
Record: 72-52
Attendance: 17,228
The Rays went scoreless for twelve and two-thirds innings before Eric Sogard hit a ball off the right center field wall for a double, only the Rays' fifth hit of the night, and was then driven home by Michael Brosseau walk-off single to right center. Rays win! Whew!
Those twelve and two-thirds scoreless innings were futile in their own right, but the Rays hadn't scored the previous night either against the Tigers, nor in the last eight innings of the game before that in San Diego. In all they had gone 29 consecutive scoreless innings before powering home that game winner in the bottom of the 13th on Friday night.
The only reason the slumping offense managed to escape with a one-run victory was the magnificent pitching that didn't allow a single run all night. It began with starter Ryan Yarbrough, who pitched into the seventh inning and was followed by Roe, Anderson, Pagan, Castillo, and Poche, who got the W and is now 3-4.
How good was the parade of pictures? They struck out 24 Tigers, a Rays' record, and maybe even more amazingly, they didn't walk a single man. it was an incredible performance as each pitcher blanked the Tigers until Sogard and Brosseau finally broke the run drought--and won the game.
So the series is tied and tomorrow is the rubber match. Off the last two games, it should be a doozy. I'm ready for fireworks..
Friday, August 16. Game 123: Slumping hitters at Tropicana Field spoil Charlie Morton's excellent outing. Again.
Rays 0, Tigers 2
Record 71-52
Attendance: 13,717
The Rays will drive their fans, even grown men, to pull out their hair and scream in agonized disbelief. To recap, they still need to win 23 more games of the now 39 left to play in order to win 94 and pretty much guarantee a post season opportunity. But they've now lost two in a row to lower tier teams, first San Diego and now Detroit. Detroit, in fact, is the worst team in baseball at 36-82.
Making matters worse, the Rays had their best pitcher Charlie Morton on the mound, and he was lights out, pitching seven excellent innings: three hits, one unearned run, and 10 Ks. But he lost the game, 2-0, anyway, lowering his record to 13-5 and making his Cy Young bid a little less likely.
To call this fiasco a missed opportunity is to understate the matter by more percentage points than the Rays' collective batting averages, which have once again begun to tumble. And it couldn't have come at a worse time, right in the thick of the pennant race. They haven't scored a single run in 17 straight innings.
If that sounds familiar, it was on August 5, not even two weeks ago, that the lowly Blue Jays beat the Rays by the same score, 2-0, once again at Tropicana Field. And the string of scoreless innings in that three-game set extended to 24 of 28 innings. The losing pitcher then, as now, was Charlie Morton, who should be 15-3 instead of 13-5.
What accounts for the prolonged hitting problems the home team has on its home field? Maybe it's the truth of Tommy Pham's pre-season radio comment that Tampa Bay has no fan base at all. Maybe the lack of attendance works on the minds of this edition of the Rays more than it did on earlier teams. Maybe it's the looming menace of moving to Montreal with all the hardships that will impose on them. Maybe they've lost faith with the Rays front office, from owner Stu Sternberg down.
Whatever the reason, the Rays home record has now fallen to 31-29, which stands in stark contrast to their away record which is the best in baseball, 40-23. But, the Rays have 21 more home games to play, and, to repeat, if they are going to win 94, they'll need to win 23 of their remaining 39 games.
It isn't idle negativism to predict that home-game batting slumps, which have plagued the Rays all season, will bury this team over the last six weeks of the season.
Something else to second guess: Manager Kevin Cash used Jose De Leon in the 7-2 loss to San Diego on Wednesday and on Friday he used Peter Fairbanks against Detroit. De Leon made his first major league appearance after Tommy John surgery and Fairbanks, who is returning from his second Tommy John surgery, also made his first appearance for the Rays, having been acquired in July from Texas and being assigned to Durham. By most accounts, both have bright futures, but to put them in the crucible of a hot pennant race is to ask them both for high performance while they try their "new" arms out during on-the-job-training. De Leon pitched two innings and gave up one run on a hit and two walks. Fairbanks pitched one inning and gave up two hits and a run. Does it do any good for the pitchers or the team to put reconstructed arms on display during a critical stretch of games?
Record 71-52
Attendance: 13,717
The Rays will drive their fans, even grown men, to pull out their hair and scream in agonized disbelief. To recap, they still need to win 23 more games of the now 39 left to play in order to win 94 and pretty much guarantee a post season opportunity. But they've now lost two in a row to lower tier teams, first San Diego and now Detroit. Detroit, in fact, is the worst team in baseball at 36-82.
Making matters worse, the Rays had their best pitcher Charlie Morton on the mound, and he was lights out, pitching seven excellent innings: three hits, one unearned run, and 10 Ks. But he lost the game, 2-0, anyway, lowering his record to 13-5 and making his Cy Young bid a little less likely.
To call this fiasco a missed opportunity is to understate the matter by more percentage points than the Rays' collective batting averages, which have once again begun to tumble. And it couldn't have come at a worse time, right in the thick of the pennant race. They haven't scored a single run in 17 straight innings.
If that sounds familiar, it was on August 5, not even two weeks ago, that the lowly Blue Jays beat the Rays by the same score, 2-0, once again at Tropicana Field. And the string of scoreless innings in that three-game set extended to 24 of 28 innings. The losing pitcher then, as now, was Charlie Morton, who should be 15-3 instead of 13-5.
What accounts for the prolonged hitting problems the home team has on its home field? Maybe it's the truth of Tommy Pham's pre-season radio comment that Tampa Bay has no fan base at all. Maybe the lack of attendance works on the minds of this edition of the Rays more than it did on earlier teams. Maybe it's the looming menace of moving to Montreal with all the hardships that will impose on them. Maybe they've lost faith with the Rays front office, from owner Stu Sternberg down.
Whatever the reason, the Rays home record has now fallen to 31-29, which stands in stark contrast to their away record which is the best in baseball, 40-23. But, the Rays have 21 more home games to play, and, to repeat, if they are going to win 94, they'll need to win 23 of their remaining 39 games.
It isn't idle negativism to predict that home-game batting slumps, which have plagued the Rays all season, will bury this team over the last six weeks of the season.
Something else to second guess: Manager Kevin Cash used Jose De Leon in the 7-2 loss to San Diego on Wednesday and on Friday he used Peter Fairbanks against Detroit. De Leon made his first major league appearance after Tommy John surgery and Fairbanks, who is returning from his second Tommy John surgery, also made his first appearance for the Rays, having been acquired in July from Texas and being assigned to Durham. By most accounts, both have bright futures, but to put them in the crucible of a hot pennant race is to ask them both for high performance while they try their "new" arms out during on-the-job-training. De Leon pitched two innings and gave up one run on a hit and two walks. Fairbanks pitched one inning and gave up two hits and a run. Does it do any good for the pitchers or the team to put reconstructed arms on display during a critical stretch of games?
Wednesday, August 14. Game 122. A setback.
Rays 2, Padres 7
Record 71-51
Attendance: 22,886
Jalen Beeks continued his unimpressive recent work giving up five runs in five innings on eight hits and two walks. He was replaced by Jose DeLeon, who finally made his way back from Tommy John surgery, giving up another run in his two innings while striking out three. Colin Poche pitched one inning and gave up yet another run, putting the final score at 7-2. The Rays' two runs came on a promising monster homer from slumping Tommy Pham in the first. But the Rays had no answer for Cal Quantrill,.who improved his record to 6-3, nor for the string of four relievers who kept them scoreless for the last eight innings. In all they were only able to put up five hits after Pham's longball.
The West Coast road trip is over, and the Rays finished it at 5-1--very nice after all, but they must still pick up 23 more wins in the next 40 games. Next up on Friday is Detroit, which has been thinking ahead to next season for months. But two worries have surfaced. First, the Rays have a barely winning record at home this year, 31-28, and second, they are streaky hitters who can sometimes fall into a funk--and Wednesday night's eight scoreless innings to close the game and the grand total of five hits they accumulated might mean another slump is coming on. This will be a good test for the team that has faced test after test all season--and passed most of them.
Let's hope Charlie Morton is up to the job and that the Rays hitters merely hit a bump in the road against Cal Quantrill, an up and coming pitcher with a bright future.
Record 71-51
Attendance: 22,886
Jalen Beeks continued his unimpressive recent work giving up five runs in five innings on eight hits and two walks. He was replaced by Jose DeLeon, who finally made his way back from Tommy John surgery, giving up another run in his two innings while striking out three. Colin Poche pitched one inning and gave up yet another run, putting the final score at 7-2. The Rays' two runs came on a promising monster homer from slumping Tommy Pham in the first. But the Rays had no answer for Cal Quantrill,.who improved his record to 6-3, nor for the string of four relievers who kept them scoreless for the last eight innings. In all they were only able to put up five hits after Pham's longball.
The West Coast road trip is over, and the Rays finished it at 5-1--very nice after all, but they must still pick up 23 more wins in the next 40 games. Next up on Friday is Detroit, which has been thinking ahead to next season for months. But two worries have surfaced. First, the Rays have a barely winning record at home this year, 31-28, and second, they are streaky hitters who can sometimes fall into a funk--and Wednesday night's eight scoreless innings to close the game and the grand total of five hits they accumulated might mean another slump is coming on. This will be a good test for the team that has faced test after test all season--and passed most of them.
Let's hope Charlie Morton is up to the job and that the Rays hitters merely hit a bump in the road against Cal Quantrill, an up and coming pitcher with a bright future.
Tuesday, August 13. Game 121: 23 and 18 for the rest of the year gives the Rays 94 wins--and a playoff spot.
Rays 7, Padres 5
Record: 71-50
Attendance: 25,261
Game two against the Padres had a couple of oddities. First was Brendan McKay's start at a National League park, which gave him two at-bats in which he walked and struck out. His American League starts of course don't put him at the plate all, and he isn't good enough as a hitter to work his way into the lineup as DH. He wants to hit, feels he can hit and pitch at the major league level, but the way the Rays' pitching problems developed this season, he has been called into ML action before he was ready for it. He has done a creditable job, just not the brilliant one the Rays were hoping for.
The outing itself was one of the strangest anyone's ever seen. Staked to a one-run lead on Austin Meadow's first-inning HR, he gave up four runs in the bottom of the first on two doubles and five of his six walks on the night, which combined with his five hits allowed to make this as shaky a start as can be imagined. The Rays came back with a run in the second bringing the score to 4-2. And then McKay bore down to hold the Padres scoreless through the fourth, highlighted by seven strikeouts. So he walked six, struck out seven, gave up five hits and four runs, and threw 83 pitches--all in four innings.
Diego Castillo pitched the fifth, and Nick Anderson pitched a perfect sixth, striking out the side and earning the win (4-4). Chaz Roe pitched the seventh. Manage Kevin Cash chose this situation to bring in Jose Alvarado for his first appearance since being recalled from personal problems and injury, and he gave up a run on a hit, his own error, and a walk. Pagan finished it up for his 13th save.
Meanwhile the Rays batters chipped away at the Padre lead, scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth on a Meadows' RBI single and a Kevin Kiermaier fielder's choice, which scored Willy Adames. In the seventh they put the game away with a three-run outburst that began with Ji-Man Choi's two-run homer and continued with an Eric Sogard's RBI double.
The victory, hardly a pretty one, was just as nice as a no-hitter, pushing the Rays to the possibility of another road sweep and stretching their record to 21 games over .500. They will lose again, but they are playing clean defensive baseball, getting good pitching, and hitting just well enough to win.
By my count, they need to win 23 of their remaining 41 games to win 94 on the year and earn an almost-certain post-season appearance. But they have to keep winning now--and then steal a few games when they get harder to win in September.
Record: 71-50
Attendance: 25,261
Game two against the Padres had a couple of oddities. First was Brendan McKay's start at a National League park, which gave him two at-bats in which he walked and struck out. His American League starts of course don't put him at the plate all, and he isn't good enough as a hitter to work his way into the lineup as DH. He wants to hit, feels he can hit and pitch at the major league level, but the way the Rays' pitching problems developed this season, he has been called into ML action before he was ready for it. He has done a creditable job, just not the brilliant one the Rays were hoping for.
The outing itself was one of the strangest anyone's ever seen. Staked to a one-run lead on Austin Meadow's first-inning HR, he gave up four runs in the bottom of the first on two doubles and five of his six walks on the night, which combined with his five hits allowed to make this as shaky a start as can be imagined. The Rays came back with a run in the second bringing the score to 4-2. And then McKay bore down to hold the Padres scoreless through the fourth, highlighted by seven strikeouts. So he walked six, struck out seven, gave up five hits and four runs, and threw 83 pitches--all in four innings.
Diego Castillo pitched the fifth, and Nick Anderson pitched a perfect sixth, striking out the side and earning the win (4-4). Chaz Roe pitched the seventh. Manage Kevin Cash chose this situation to bring in Jose Alvarado for his first appearance since being recalled from personal problems and injury, and he gave up a run on a hit, his own error, and a walk. Pagan finished it up for his 13th save.
Meanwhile the Rays batters chipped away at the Padre lead, scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth on a Meadows' RBI single and a Kevin Kiermaier fielder's choice, which scored Willy Adames. In the seventh they put the game away with a three-run outburst that began with Ji-Man Choi's two-run homer and continued with an Eric Sogard's RBI double.
The victory, hardly a pretty one, was just as nice as a no-hitter, pushing the Rays to the possibility of another road sweep and stretching their record to 21 games over .500. They will lose again, but they are playing clean defensive baseball, getting good pitching, and hitting just well enough to win.
By my count, they need to win 23 of their remaining 41 games to win 94 on the year and earn an almost-certain post-season appearance. But they have to keep winning now--and then steal a few games when they get harder to win in September.
Monday, August 12. Game 120: And the beat moves on. . .
Rays 10, Padres 4
Record: 70-50
Attendance: 21,301
Fresh off a three-game sweep of the Mariners, the Rays ventured into Southern California for a three-game set against the Padres, with old friend Wil Myers and old antagonist Manny Machado both on hand to greet them. Myers was Rookie of the Year for the Rays in 2013, but was traded to the Padres in December 2014 for Jake Bauers, who was traded last off season to the Indians for Yandy Diaz. Myers' hasn't quite lived up to expectations, settling in as a .250 hitter with 14 HRs a year. Machado of course accepted a ten-year, $300 million offer from the Padres and in his first year with them he is hitting about .260 with big-time power numbers, 26 HRs and 70 RBIs.
But the Padres fell to the Rays anyway, 10-4. Rays bats came alive, 14 hits to go along with the ten runs, led by Matt Duffy's 4 for 4 and Avisail Garcia's 3 for 6, including his 17th HR with one on in the first inning. Even Oliver Drake pitched in with a base hit and an RBI. The Rays held a 3-2 lead going into the seventh, when they scored three runs, followed by four more in the eighth. With an eight-run lead, Andrew Kittredge gave up a two-run homer to Ian Kinsler, but the game was over long before that.
Diego Castillo opened the game with a shaky inning, giving up a run on two hits. Bulker Austin Pruitt then tossed four good innings giving up a single run, Roe and Drake combined for three innings of scoreless ball, and then came Kittredge who threw the home run ball to Kinsler.
And so the Rays begin the series with the Padres with a win, extending their winning streak on the road to seven games and their dominance in their last four series, which they swept three of. They needed to capitalize on the current soft schedule to have any hope of making the playoffs. And so far, they have. We'll know more about this team by the end of the month--but it's mid-August and so far, so good.
Record: 70-50
Attendance: 21,301
Fresh off a three-game sweep of the Mariners, the Rays ventured into Southern California for a three-game set against the Padres, with old friend Wil Myers and old antagonist Manny Machado both on hand to greet them. Myers was Rookie of the Year for the Rays in 2013, but was traded to the Padres in December 2014 for Jake Bauers, who was traded last off season to the Indians for Yandy Diaz. Myers' hasn't quite lived up to expectations, settling in as a .250 hitter with 14 HRs a year. Machado of course accepted a ten-year, $300 million offer from the Padres and in his first year with them he is hitting about .260 with big-time power numbers, 26 HRs and 70 RBIs.
But the Padres fell to the Rays anyway, 10-4. Rays bats came alive, 14 hits to go along with the ten runs, led by Matt Duffy's 4 for 4 and Avisail Garcia's 3 for 6, including his 17th HR with one on in the first inning. Even Oliver Drake pitched in with a base hit and an RBI. The Rays held a 3-2 lead going into the seventh, when they scored three runs, followed by four more in the eighth. With an eight-run lead, Andrew Kittredge gave up a two-run homer to Ian Kinsler, but the game was over long before that.
Diego Castillo opened the game with a shaky inning, giving up a run on two hits. Bulker Austin Pruitt then tossed four good innings giving up a single run, Roe and Drake combined for three innings of scoreless ball, and then came Kittredge who threw the home run ball to Kinsler.
And so the Rays begin the series with the Padres with a win, extending their winning streak on the road to seven games and their dominance in their last four series, which they swept three of. They needed to capitalize on the current soft schedule to have any hope of making the playoffs. And so far, they have. We'll know more about this team by the end of the month--but it's mid-August and so far, so good.
Sunday, August 11. Game 119: Rays keep rolling despite quiet bats
Rays 1, Mariners 0
Record: 69-50
Attendance: 24,219
The first story line with three parts is that the Rays won another one-run game, that they swept their third series in the last four, all on the road, and that they have improved their record to 69-50, one game shy of that magical-mythical super achievement of being 20 games over .500. A second story line has to do with the continuing cold bats. They got a game-winning homer from Eric Sogard, who continues to pay dividends on his trade deadline acquisition, but they went 0 for 8 in the remaining innings. In all they managed a mere six hits. They have to do better or they will eventually fall out of sight in the pennant race.
The story line everyone wants to talk about, however, is manager Kevin Cash's decision to pull his starter Ryan Yarbrough with two outs in the ninth and with only 99 pitches. But that pesky 27th out, in Cash's estimation, needed a hard-throwing, right handed, fresh arm to face pinch-hitter Omar Narvaez, currently hitting .291 with 17 HRs. The strategy worked when Narvaez grounded out to second to end the game and the team ended up with a victory, Yarbrough's record improving to 11-3 and Emilio Pagan earning his 12th save and second in a row. Yes Yarbrough was denied a chance to pitch the Rays' first complete game in three years, hardly a goal in modern-day baseball, but the important things are first that they won the game and second Yarbrough got the win.
Cash's nightmares will always include Narvaez smashing a game-tying homer off Pagan, and then the Mariners rallying in extra innings for a win the Rays absolutely needed. That, of course, as if you need to be reminded, has happened several times this season. But Pagan has been peaking as the Rays' late inning go-to man, despite his early season shakiness. This is the time to peak, and Cash got first-rate peak performances from Yarbrough and Pagan.
No controversy. The win is what counts.
Monday's game is against San Diego. The opener will be Diego Castillo to be followed by bulk man Austin Pruitt.
Record: 69-50
Attendance: 24,219
The first story line with three parts is that the Rays won another one-run game, that they swept their third series in the last four, all on the road, and that they have improved their record to 69-50, one game shy of that magical-mythical super achievement of being 20 games over .500. A second story line has to do with the continuing cold bats. They got a game-winning homer from Eric Sogard, who continues to pay dividends on his trade deadline acquisition, but they went 0 for 8 in the remaining innings. In all they managed a mere six hits. They have to do better or they will eventually fall out of sight in the pennant race.
The story line everyone wants to talk about, however, is manager Kevin Cash's decision to pull his starter Ryan Yarbrough with two outs in the ninth and with only 99 pitches. But that pesky 27th out, in Cash's estimation, needed a hard-throwing, right handed, fresh arm to face pinch-hitter Omar Narvaez, currently hitting .291 with 17 HRs. The strategy worked when Narvaez grounded out to second to end the game and the team ended up with a victory, Yarbrough's record improving to 11-3 and Emilio Pagan earning his 12th save and second in a row. Yes Yarbrough was denied a chance to pitch the Rays' first complete game in three years, hardly a goal in modern-day baseball, but the important things are first that they won the game and second Yarbrough got the win.
Cash's nightmares will always include Narvaez smashing a game-tying homer off Pagan, and then the Mariners rallying in extra innings for a win the Rays absolutely needed. That, of course, as if you need to be reminded, has happened several times this season. But Pagan has been peaking as the Rays' late inning go-to man, despite his early season shakiness. This is the time to peak, and Cash got first-rate peak performances from Yarbrough and Pagan.
No controversy. The win is what counts.
Monday's game is against San Diego. The opener will be Diego Castillo to be followed by bulk man Austin Pruitt.
Saturday, August 10. Game 118: Rays squeak by again
Rays 5, Mariners 4
Record: 68-50
Attendance: 33,895
The new streak is two. The Rays after losing nine straight games to the Mariners in Seattle, have now won two in a row. Perhaps even more surprising, they won another one-run game--not their strongest suit in this odd baseball season that began with two months of sterling baseball followed by a two month tailspin when they stunk up the place. And now again, they have begun to look like a team that needs to be taken seriously.
This one was especially gratifying, Charlie Morton getting the win and going six innings and a hundred pitches. His last outing was cut short by manager Kevin Cash, who later regretted the move. This time, Charlie took a victory lap, raising his record to 13-4, which ought to put his name in the conversation for the 2019 Cy Young award. That of course will depend on the rest of August and September, but for now everyone in Rays-Land is happy for the lanky old man who has quietly anchored the pitching rotation all year.
Colin Poche and Nick Anderson both pitched clean innings, Anderson striking out the side, and Emilio Pagan, who seems to have emerged as the unannointed closer of the team, earned his 11th save and has shown a swagger and confidence that was absent earlier in the year. Again, a gratifying development,.
Finally there was Mike Zunino in his first return series against his former club. He hit his eighth HR with two men on in the fifth inning. This has not so far been the season either Zunino or the Rays had hoped he might have. He got off to a very slow start, then caught fire for a while before going on the IL. When he got back he had lost his swing again and suddenly found himself struggling to get playing time because his emergency replacement started tearing up opposing pitchers, Travis d'Arnaud.
But on Saturday night, the trade that brought Zunino to the Rays seemed solid, and if he keeps it up he could resume his full-time occupation of the catching position because he is by far the best catcher on the team defensively.
There were two other homers, one from Kevin Kiermaier, his 12th, and one from Avasail Garcia, his 16th. The Rays went scoreless in seven of the nine innings and only managed seven hits in all, but this time they turned out to be just enough to narrowly prevail against a scrappy Mariner team that was celebrating Edgar Martinez night now that he has finally been admitted to the Hall of Fame.
The Rays saw their record improve to 18 games over .500 for the first time this year, and can sweep the Mariners with a win on Sunday, when, with their starting rotation missing Blake Snell, Taylor Glasnow, and Yonny Chirinos, they will call on Ryan Yarbrough to be a true starter instead of a bulk man. It will be the Mariners who will go to an opener and a bulker for the second game in a row.
Despite the criticism Cash got for inventing a new way to employ a depleted pitching staff, it has caught on around the majors. He seems destined to be a major league manager for a long time, maybe even one of the great ones, but inventing the opener and bulker strategy may be his greatest legacy to the game. Predicting the future is hazardous duty, of course, so it is just as likely that Cash and his strategy will crash and burn after its initial run of success. However, I'm betting the trailer money that Cash and his strategy will be honored by baseball for decades to come.
Record: 68-50
Attendance: 33,895
The new streak is two. The Rays after losing nine straight games to the Mariners in Seattle, have now won two in a row. Perhaps even more surprising, they won another one-run game--not their strongest suit in this odd baseball season that began with two months of sterling baseball followed by a two month tailspin when they stunk up the place. And now again, they have begun to look like a team that needs to be taken seriously.
This one was especially gratifying, Charlie Morton getting the win and going six innings and a hundred pitches. His last outing was cut short by manager Kevin Cash, who later regretted the move. This time, Charlie took a victory lap, raising his record to 13-4, which ought to put his name in the conversation for the 2019 Cy Young award. That of course will depend on the rest of August and September, but for now everyone in Rays-Land is happy for the lanky old man who has quietly anchored the pitching rotation all year.
Colin Poche and Nick Anderson both pitched clean innings, Anderson striking out the side, and Emilio Pagan, who seems to have emerged as the unannointed closer of the team, earned his 11th save and has shown a swagger and confidence that was absent earlier in the year. Again, a gratifying development,.
Finally there was Mike Zunino in his first return series against his former club. He hit his eighth HR with two men on in the fifth inning. This has not so far been the season either Zunino or the Rays had hoped he might have. He got off to a very slow start, then caught fire for a while before going on the IL. When he got back he had lost his swing again and suddenly found himself struggling to get playing time because his emergency replacement started tearing up opposing pitchers, Travis d'Arnaud.
But on Saturday night, the trade that brought Zunino to the Rays seemed solid, and if he keeps it up he could resume his full-time occupation of the catching position because he is by far the best catcher on the team defensively.
There were two other homers, one from Kevin Kiermaier, his 12th, and one from Avasail Garcia, his 16th. The Rays went scoreless in seven of the nine innings and only managed seven hits in all, but this time they turned out to be just enough to narrowly prevail against a scrappy Mariner team that was celebrating Edgar Martinez night now that he has finally been admitted to the Hall of Fame.
The Rays saw their record improve to 18 games over .500 for the first time this year, and can sweep the Mariners with a win on Sunday, when, with their starting rotation missing Blake Snell, Taylor Glasnow, and Yonny Chirinos, they will call on Ryan Yarbrough to be a true starter instead of a bulk man. It will be the Mariners who will go to an opener and a bulker for the second game in a row.
Despite the criticism Cash got for inventing a new way to employ a depleted pitching staff, it has caught on around the majors. He seems destined to be a major league manager for a long time, maybe even one of the great ones, but inventing the opener and bulker strategy may be his greatest legacy to the game. Predicting the future is hazardous duty, of course, so it is just as likely that Cash and his strategy will crash and burn after its initial run of success. However, I'm betting the trailer money that Cash and his strategy will be honored by baseball for decades to come.
Friday, August 9. Game 117: A late win, but offense still mired down
Rays 5, Mariners 3
Record: 67-50
Attendance: 26,774
The Rays drew first blood in the second when Michael Brosseau grounded into a force play and drove in Matt Duffy. In the third inning, Jesus Aguilar grounded to third and scored Tommy Pham. The Mariners tied the game at two and the two teams drifted uninspired into the ninth, when the Rays scored three times: on a walk, an error, and a force out. It was hardly an offensive break through, but it was enough to beat the Mariners, who managed a third run on a homer by Ryan Court, a thirty-one-year-old rookie who has only 17 at-bats in the majors--and one home run. Good for him.
Jalen Beeks, who has been struggling of late, started the game and lasted three and two-thirds, giving up five hits and two walks plus two runs, one earned. Poche, Roe, Anderson, and Drake, who got the win (now 1-1) all preceded Emilio Pagan who got the save despite giving up the Court homer.
It wasn't pretty. It offered no reassurance that the offense or pitching was good enough to prevail in a pennant race. But it was a win in Seattle, which is a big deal. The last time they won in Seattle, according to Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, was June 17, 2015--nine straight losses ago. So maybe by shaking off the Seattle Curse, the Rays uncovered the key to success during this important stretch of the pennant race.
Charlie Morton on Saturday.
Injury update: Yandy Diaz's bruised foot has been upgraded to a hairline fracture and he will be out of action for the rest of the year, though there is some hope he might be available for the post-season--if there is one.
Record: 67-50
Attendance: 26,774
The Rays drew first blood in the second when Michael Brosseau grounded into a force play and drove in Matt Duffy. In the third inning, Jesus Aguilar grounded to third and scored Tommy Pham. The Mariners tied the game at two and the two teams drifted uninspired into the ninth, when the Rays scored three times: on a walk, an error, and a force out. It was hardly an offensive break through, but it was enough to beat the Mariners, who managed a third run on a homer by Ryan Court, a thirty-one-year-old rookie who has only 17 at-bats in the majors--and one home run. Good for him.
Jalen Beeks, who has been struggling of late, started the game and lasted three and two-thirds, giving up five hits and two walks plus two runs, one earned. Poche, Roe, Anderson, and Drake, who got the win (now 1-1) all preceded Emilio Pagan who got the save despite giving up the Court homer.
It wasn't pretty. It offered no reassurance that the offense or pitching was good enough to prevail in a pennant race. But it was a win in Seattle, which is a big deal. The last time they won in Seattle, according to Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, was June 17, 2015--nine straight losses ago. So maybe by shaking off the Seattle Curse, the Rays uncovered the key to success during this important stretch of the pennant race.
Charlie Morton on Saturday.
Injury update: Yandy Diaz's bruised foot has been upgraded to a hairline fracture and he will be out of action for the rest of the year, though there is some hope he might be available for the post-season--if there is one.
Wednesday, August 7. Game 116. Playoff contenders win games like this.
Rays 3, Blue Jays 4
Record: 66-50
Attendance: 10,299
The Rays went seven scoreless innings before putting up three late runs in the eighth and ninth innings, running their string of futility to 24 scoreless innings in the 28 innings in three games against the Blue Jays. They didn't deserve to win and they didn't.
Brandon McKay (2-2), just a kid who shouldn't be asked to carry a heavy burden down a pennant run, gave up three runs in five innings plus, surrendering homers to Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. and Randal Grichuk. Down by four in the eighth, the Rays scored on a double by Meadows and a single by Garcia, and then in the ninth, after a Kiermaier single, Mike Zunino hit his seventh homer of the year to bring the Rays within one, but that's how it ended.
Losing an August series to Toronto (47-70), is unacceptable--and they all know it, from Manager Kevin Cash to the 25th man on the roster, whoever he may be.
Looking to right the ship on the West Coast, the Rays open a weekend set against the Mariners on Friday night. Thursday they lick their wounds on a welcome off day.
Record: 66-50
Attendance: 10,299
The Rays went seven scoreless innings before putting up three late runs in the eighth and ninth innings, running their string of futility to 24 scoreless innings in the 28 innings in three games against the Blue Jays. They didn't deserve to win and they didn't.
Brandon McKay (2-2), just a kid who shouldn't be asked to carry a heavy burden down a pennant run, gave up three runs in five innings plus, surrendering homers to Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. and Randal Grichuk. Down by four in the eighth, the Rays scored on a double by Meadows and a single by Garcia, and then in the ninth, after a Kiermaier single, Mike Zunino hit his seventh homer of the year to bring the Rays within one, but that's how it ended.
Losing an August series to Toronto (47-70), is unacceptable--and they all know it, from Manager Kevin Cash to the 25th man on the roster, whoever he may be.
Looking to right the ship on the West Coast, the Rays open a weekend set against the Mariners on Friday night. Thursday they lick their wounds on a welcome off day.
Tuesday, August 6: Game 115: Sixth inning fireworks and a wild pitch save the day.
Rays 7, Blue Jays 6 (10 innings)
Record: 66-49
Attendance: 9,434
The Blue Jays, off a two nothing shutout of the Rays on Monday, came out firing on Tuesday night. The took a 6-0 lead after a three-run homer in the second by Brandon Drury; a solo blast from Cavan Biggio in the third; and two runs on 3B Matt Duffy's throwing error in the fourth. But in the bottom of the fourth, the Rays banged out three two-run homers (Garcia, Adames, and Meadows) to tie the game, a vivid reminder of how easy this game is when the offense lights up the evening sky with long balls. But it was their first runs in 12 innings against lowly Toronto pitching--a long scoreless stretch.
With the score tied at six, the Rays went into their usual funk for five more goose-egg innings. Then in the bottom of the tenth, they loaded the bases with no outs, but Tommy Pham and Travis d'Arnaud both struck out. Austin Meadows ran the count to 2 and 2, when Buddy Boshers, Toronto's fifth pitcher of the night, uncorked a wild pitch to score Kevin Kiermaier. Not exactly an offensive statement, but enough to win the game. The Blue Jays are giving the Rays all they can handle lately, and this series is no exception.
Rays' pitching started out weak with opener Andrew Kittredge giving up three runs in his two innings, and bulker Ryan Yarbrough giving up three more in his four and two-thirds. Roe came in to finish up the seventh, and then Anderson, Pagan, and Castillo pitched three perfect innings each, Castillo getting the win (2-6).
Depending on heroics and wild pitches doesn't seem like the best strategy at this stage of the season. They'll have to do better tomorrow in the rubber game of the series.
Record: 66-49
Attendance: 9,434
The Blue Jays, off a two nothing shutout of the Rays on Monday, came out firing on Tuesday night. The took a 6-0 lead after a three-run homer in the second by Brandon Drury; a solo blast from Cavan Biggio in the third; and two runs on 3B Matt Duffy's throwing error in the fourth. But in the bottom of the fourth, the Rays banged out three two-run homers (Garcia, Adames, and Meadows) to tie the game, a vivid reminder of how easy this game is when the offense lights up the evening sky with long balls. But it was their first runs in 12 innings against lowly Toronto pitching--a long scoreless stretch.
With the score tied at six, the Rays went into their usual funk for five more goose-egg innings. Then in the bottom of the tenth, they loaded the bases with no outs, but Tommy Pham and Travis d'Arnaud both struck out. Austin Meadows ran the count to 2 and 2, when Buddy Boshers, Toronto's fifth pitcher of the night, uncorked a wild pitch to score Kevin Kiermaier. Not exactly an offensive statement, but enough to win the game. The Blue Jays are giving the Rays all they can handle lately, and this series is no exception.
Rays' pitching started out weak with opener Andrew Kittredge giving up three runs in his two innings, and bulker Ryan Yarbrough giving up three more in his four and two-thirds. Roe came in to finish up the seventh, and then Anderson, Pagan, and Castillo pitched three perfect innings each, Castillo getting the win (2-6).
Depending on heroics and wild pitches doesn't seem like the best strategy at this stage of the season. They'll have to do better tomorrow in the rubber game of the series.
Monday, August 5. Game 114: Rays grade out at zero in first game against the Blue Jays
Rays 0, Blue Jays 2
Record: 65-49
Attendance: 11,948
It may be the Rays failed to understand the importance of beating the teams they're supposed to beat. Or maybe the Blue Jays newest phenom Bo Bichette didn't get the memo. Hitting leadoff, he doubled and scored the first run of the game in the first inning, and then homered in the third to put the game away. Which the Rays facilitated by getting only five hits all night and by going 0-8 with runners in scoring position. They were complicit in their own demise.
Charlie Morton lost the game (now 12-4 with an ERA of 2.77), despite going seven strong innings where he gave up seven hits and struck out 9.
The Rays had better wake up as a team or all the schedule advantages of the next month will dissolve into meaningless and lost opportunities.
Record: 65-49
Attendance: 11,948
It may be the Rays failed to understand the importance of beating the teams they're supposed to beat. Or maybe the Blue Jays newest phenom Bo Bichette didn't get the memo. Hitting leadoff, he doubled and scored the first run of the game in the first inning, and then homered in the third to put the game away. Which the Rays facilitated by getting only five hits all night and by going 0-8 with runners in scoring position. They were complicit in their own demise.
Charlie Morton lost the game (now 12-4 with an ERA of 2.77), despite going seven strong innings where he gave up seven hits and struck out 9.
The Rays had better wake up as a team or all the schedule advantages of the next month will dissolve into meaningless and lost opportunities.
Sunday, August 4. Game 113
Rays 7, Marlins, 2
Record: 65-48
Attendance: 14,819
On Sunday the Rays completed a weekend sweep of the Marlins, 7-2. The kudos were spread around the team pretty evenly, 10 hits, home runs from Mike Brosseau and new guy Jesus Aguilar (estimated at 446 feet), five strong innings from Yonny Chirinos (now 9-5), and good-enough bullpen work. Diego Castillo did not surrender a run even though he gave up a hit and a walk in his two-thirds of an inning. Colin Poche pitched a perfect inning and a third, and Andrew Kittredge gave up a single run in the eighth.
Exit Miami (42-67), enter Toronto (45-69). The Rays should win again, but Vladimir Guerrero is playing his best baseball since his call up in May. And newly brought up Bo Bichette is hitting for average and power. The Blue Jays were sellers at the trade deadline, so their arsenal is reduced, but the Rays would do well to think in terms of overcoming a potentially productive lineup that can put runs on the scoreboard. The Jays will have to do it against Rays' ace Charlie Morton, however, so the game has interest even if the pennant race was not a factor. But it is.
Record: 65-48
Attendance: 14,819
On Sunday the Rays completed a weekend sweep of the Marlins, 7-2. The kudos were spread around the team pretty evenly, 10 hits, home runs from Mike Brosseau and new guy Jesus Aguilar (estimated at 446 feet), five strong innings from Yonny Chirinos (now 9-5), and good-enough bullpen work. Diego Castillo did not surrender a run even though he gave up a hit and a walk in his two-thirds of an inning. Colin Poche pitched a perfect inning and a third, and Andrew Kittredge gave up a single run in the eighth.
Exit Miami (42-67), enter Toronto (45-69). The Rays should win again, but Vladimir Guerrero is playing his best baseball since his call up in May. And newly brought up Bo Bichette is hitting for average and power. The Blue Jays were sellers at the trade deadline, so their arsenal is reduced, but the Rays would do well to think in terms of overcoming a potentially productive lineup that can put runs on the scoreboard. The Jays will have to do it against Rays' ace Charlie Morton, however, so the game has interest even if the pennant race was not a factor. But it is.
Saturday, August 3. Game 112: Rays over Marlins, 5th straight
Rays 8, Marlins 6
Record: 64-48
Attendance: 14,092
The pesky Marlins at 42-66 gave the Rays just about all they could handle on Saturday, playing them about even up for seven innings. In the bottom of the 8th, Willie Adames homered and Travis d'Arnaud singled in a run, which put the Rays up by two, the final score being 8-6.
The Rays got two homers from newcomer Eric Sogard, and another from Austin Meadows, and the pitching held together, mostly. Diego Castillo opened giving up a hit in his one inning, but Jalen Beeks was not sharp for his second outing in a row: four innings, five hits, one walk, and four runs. Nick Anderson (W, now 3-4), who was traded last Wednesday to the Rays from the Marlins, pitched a solid inning with two strikeouts. Emilio Pagan closed it out for the save, his 9th.
And suddenly the Rays are on a roll. They took two of three from Toronto (the only one they lost they were ahead by 7 runs in the late innings), then three in a row from the Red Sox, now the first of a two-game set against the Marlins. Is another sweep about to be realized?
Record: 64-48
Attendance: 14,092
The pesky Marlins at 42-66 gave the Rays just about all they could handle on Saturday, playing them about even up for seven innings. In the bottom of the 8th, Willie Adames homered and Travis d'Arnaud singled in a run, which put the Rays up by two, the final score being 8-6.
The Rays got two homers from newcomer Eric Sogard, and another from Austin Meadows, and the pitching held together, mostly. Diego Castillo opened giving up a hit in his one inning, but Jalen Beeks was not sharp for his second outing in a row: four innings, five hits, one walk, and four runs. Nick Anderson (W, now 3-4), who was traded last Wednesday to the Rays from the Marlins, pitched a solid inning with two strikeouts. Emilio Pagan closed it out for the save, his 9th.
And suddenly the Rays are on a roll. They took two of three from Toronto (the only one they lost they were ahead by 7 runs in the late innings), then three in a row from the Red Sox, now the first of a two-game set against the Marlins. Is another sweep about to be realized?
Friday, August 2. Off Day
This odd Friday off day is the result of MLB's bright idea to spur attendance in games featuring natural rivals, like the two-game set with the Marlins this weekend.
Wednesday, July 31. Game 110. Rays beat Bosox again, enter trade deadline sweepstakes
Rays 8, Red Sox 5
Record: 62-48
Attendance: 33,046
After a flurry of trades right up to the 4:00 PM deadline, the Rays went out and beat the Red Sox 8-5, thus taking the first two of the three-game set--and now with the potential to complete a rare sweep of Boston at Fenway Park..
The Rays jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings. The big blows were HRs, a solo shot by Kevin Kiermaier and a three-run shot by Austin Meadows. Willy Adames added another solo blow in the sixth. All those runs were charged to Boston starter and former Cy Young winner Rick Porcello. In the seventh, Kiermaier tripled in a run and Matt Duffy singled in the last run.
The Rays opener Andrew Kittredge went two and a third and gave up a run. He was followed by bulk man Ryan Yarbrough, who gave up solo homers to J. D. Martinez and Michael Chavis in four-plus innings, good enough to win the game and improve his record to 10-3. Castillo and Poche, neither of whom gave up a run, came next, and the game was surprisingly closed by Chaz Roe, who gave up a hit and a walk before getting the last out and earning his first save.
Bottom line: The Rays took two in a row from the Red Sox and may take all three with a victory tomorrow. And that's after the Bosox tore the Yankees apart in the last series they played. Pretty impressive.
Record: 62-48
Attendance: 33,046
After a flurry of trades right up to the 4:00 PM deadline, the Rays went out and beat the Red Sox 8-5, thus taking the first two of the three-game set--and now with the potential to complete a rare sweep of Boston at Fenway Park..
The Rays jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings. The big blows were HRs, a solo shot by Kevin Kiermaier and a three-run shot by Austin Meadows. Willy Adames added another solo blow in the sixth. All those runs were charged to Boston starter and former Cy Young winner Rick Porcello. In the seventh, Kiermaier tripled in a run and Matt Duffy singled in the last run.
The Rays opener Andrew Kittredge went two and a third and gave up a run. He was followed by bulk man Ryan Yarbrough, who gave up solo homers to J. D. Martinez and Michael Chavis in four-plus innings, good enough to win the game and improve his record to 10-3. Castillo and Poche, neither of whom gave up a run, came next, and the game was surprisingly closed by Chaz Roe, who gave up a hit and a walk before getting the last out and earning his first save.
Bottom line: The Rays took two in a row from the Red Sox and may take all three with a victory tomorrow. And that's after the Bosox tore the Yankees apart in the last series they played. Pretty impressive.
The Rays are buyers at the trade deadline.
They got their long-sought, hard-hitting, right-handed bat in Jesus Aguilar from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for relief pitcher Jake Faria. Though Aguilar's numbers began low this year before beginning to heat up in July, he hit 35 HRs last year and will platoon with Ji-Man Choi at 1B and DH. Talented rookie 1B Nate Lowe was reassigned to Durham, the odd man out. For the moment. He'll be back.
They also got their late-inning relief specialist, who will not be given the official designation of "closer," in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. He came with pitcher Trevor Richards, who will be sent to Durham to get himself physically and mentally prepared to be an opener and bulk man in the near future. For these two, the Rays gave up Ryne Stanek, a valuable opener (but terrible closer) and prized minor league OF Jesus Sanchez, a top fifty MLB-ranked talent. Give the Rays credit, they gave up a good prospect for their long-term future in order to put a real effort into winning this year. The front office went out of character this time, a thrilling gesture to Rays' everywhere.
There was also a flurry of other moves. They dealt Adam Kolarek to the Dodgers in exchange for a low level minor league OF, Niko Hulsizer. There were two other low level deals with the Dodgers and Giants.
The changes are all good and have the potential to get the Rays to the playoffs, but it remains to be seen what impact Aguilar and Anderson will have on the remaining games this summer. This is what a pennant race is supposed to look like!
Thursday, August 1. Game 111: Sweet Sweep of Bosox!
Rays 9, Red Sox 4
Record: 63-48
Attendance: 37,225
With newcomers Jesus Aguilar and Nick Anderson on hand and on the field, the Rays went out on Thursday night and beat up the Boston Red Sox 9-4, finishing a three-game sweep at Fenway Park. That doesn't happen very often.
Aguilar, DHing, went 2 for 3, with two singles measured over 100 mph and two walks. He scored twice too. All told, nice work. Anderson came in in the eighth and struck out two, gave up a hit but no runs, and fired the ball in the high 90s. Again, nice work from a new guy. We will have to wait a while to measure the trade deadline acquisitions, but off the early returns, the rest of the summer looks promising.
Brendan McKay won his second game of the year, a creditable job over five and a third innings even though he gave up three runs on a pair of round trippers by Xander Bogaerts. He was supported by home runs from Austin Meadows and Mike Zunino, part of a 12-hit attack that scored runs in the first, second, sixth, eighth, and ninth innings. Despite Bogaerts's heroics and another homer from Mookie Betts in the seventh, the Rays dominated the game--and the series.
And with a much easier August and September schedule than they faced in June and July, the Rays may yet be heard from in the post season. That seemed very possible in April and May, all but impossible in June and July, and suddenly very possible once again as the teams approach the far turn of the 2019 season and begin their charge to the finish line.
This couldn't be more fun!
Record: 63-48
Attendance: 37,225
With newcomers Jesus Aguilar and Nick Anderson on hand and on the field, the Rays went out on Thursday night and beat up the Boston Red Sox 9-4, finishing a three-game sweep at Fenway Park. That doesn't happen very often.
Aguilar, DHing, went 2 for 3, with two singles measured over 100 mph and two walks. He scored twice too. All told, nice work. Anderson came in in the eighth and struck out two, gave up a hit but no runs, and fired the ball in the high 90s. Again, nice work from a new guy. We will have to wait a while to measure the trade deadline acquisitions, but off the early returns, the rest of the summer looks promising.
Brendan McKay won his second game of the year, a creditable job over five and a third innings even though he gave up three runs on a pair of round trippers by Xander Bogaerts. He was supported by home runs from Austin Meadows and Mike Zunino, part of a 12-hit attack that scored runs in the first, second, sixth, eighth, and ninth innings. Despite Bogaerts's heroics and another homer from Mookie Betts in the seventh, the Rays dominated the game--and the series.
And with a much easier August and September schedule than they faced in June and July, the Rays may yet be heard from in the post season. That seemed very possible in April and May, all but impossible in June and July, and suddenly very possible once again as the teams approach the far turn of the 2019 season and begin their charge to the finish line.
This couldn't be more fun!
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