Rays 3, Twins 5
Record: 35-20
Attendance: 14,375
It isn't especially surprising the Rays lost last night. They didn't have two of their hottest hitters, Tommy Pham and Avisail Garcia (both out with what appear to be minor injuries), but they only managed four hits, after all. What is surprising is that they were right in the game, a 3-3 tie, going into the ninth inning. Diego Castillo came in to get the last out in the top of the eighth, but then in the ninth he got into immediate trouble by hitting the leadoff hitter and then hitting the fifth hitter, squeezing two outs in between. Lefty Adam Kolarek came in to face lefty Eddie Rosario, who promptly grounded a single inside third base, and suddenly the game was 5-3 Twins, which is how it ended.
Put the blame for this one on the closer tandem of Alvarado and Castillo. This time it was Castillo who got the loss and is now 1-4 (but 6-0 in saves). Alvarado is 0-4 (but also 6-0 in saves). It's the losses of course that are causing concern. Those are eight games the Rays might have won if their closer situation was more rock solid. Finding the strike zone has become an adventure. Too many high velocity fastballs get spiked into the dirt and require acrobatic moves by the catcher to keep runners from advancing--or scoring. And last night, Castillo plunked two men in the ninth inning of a tie game.
Let's be positive here: The Rays are no doubt trying to work out a deal with one-time All Star closer Craig Kimbrel, who is still available on the free agent market. And due to the language of MLB's rules and regs, after June 1, the signing team doesn't have to give up a draft pick to sign him. It is possible that the tag team of Alvarado and Castillo will come back and be the steaming strike throwers they were in April, and there is no telling that Kimbrel will be up to the job. But with everything else going so well for the Rays, it would be a terrible decision not to throw the dice. Kimbrel could be the single piece of the puzzle that puts the Rays into the playoffs. Deep into the playoffs.
As quiet as Rays bats were last night, Kevin Kiermaier hit his sixth homer of the year in the second, a towering fly ball to straightaway center with one man on. And in the third inning, with Austin Meadows on third and Willy Adames on first, the Rays pulled off a double steal, Adames breaking for second and drawing a throw, which was enough distraction for Meadows to steal home. But that was it for offense, which was apparently resting on its Thursday night laurels.
Today's day game pits Yonny Chirinos (6-1, 2.91) against Kyle Gibson (5-2, 4.08).
Thursday, May 30. Game 54: Rays maul Twins
Rays 14, Twins 3
Record: 35-19
Attendance: 8,076
It doesn't make sense that the Rays' most dominating performance of the year should come at the expense of the team with the best record in baseball. But that's what happened last night when the Rays took on the Minnesota Twins, which at 37-17 were 20 games over .500. And this is the team the Rays beat 14-3, to raise their own record to 35-19, 16 games over .500 and one-half game out of first place in the AL East. .
The successful evening got started with Charlie Morton (now 6-0) going seven innings in which he gave up two runs on four hits (no walks). Mopping up were Adam Kolarek and Oliver Drake. But the damage was done by the Rays' offense, six runs in the third and five more in the fourth. They left only eight men on base, and with men in scoring position, they went 9 for 11. Austin Meadows once again showed the way, hitting a double inside the first base line with the bases loaded in the third. In his recent attack on the record books, Meadows had another two-hit night with four RBIs, putting his season BA at .361 and his RBI total at 35; he also leads the team with 12 HRs. He played left field last night where he managed a full-extension grab of a fly ball slicing away from him near the wall. Nothing but the IL has been able to stop him so far this year.
Yandy Diaz, on the shelf since being hit on the left hand almost two weeks ago against the Yankees, is showing progress and is nearly ready for a rehab assignment. Meanwhile, the Rays called up Christian Arroyo, who had two doubles and two RBIs in yesterday's game and seems readier than ever to compete for a regular job. Mike Zunino played his second rehab game at Charlotte (three Ks in seven innings), which probably means there will be a roster change at the catcher position very soon.
Tonight's game is back to opener Ryne Stanek with Jalen Beeks (4-0) slotted as the bulk-man
Record: 35-19
Attendance: 8,076
It doesn't make sense that the Rays' most dominating performance of the year should come at the expense of the team with the best record in baseball. But that's what happened last night when the Rays took on the Minnesota Twins, which at 37-17 were 20 games over .500. And this is the team the Rays beat 14-3, to raise their own record to 35-19, 16 games over .500 and one-half game out of first place in the AL East. .
The successful evening got started with Charlie Morton (now 6-0) going seven innings in which he gave up two runs on four hits (no walks). Mopping up were Adam Kolarek and Oliver Drake. But the damage was done by the Rays' offense, six runs in the third and five more in the fourth. They left only eight men on base, and with men in scoring position, they went 9 for 11. Austin Meadows once again showed the way, hitting a double inside the first base line with the bases loaded in the third. In his recent attack on the record books, Meadows had another two-hit night with four RBIs, putting his season BA at .361 and his RBI total at 35; he also leads the team with 12 HRs. He played left field last night where he managed a full-extension grab of a fly ball slicing away from him near the wall. Nothing but the IL has been able to stop him so far this year.
Yandy Diaz, on the shelf since being hit on the left hand almost two weeks ago against the Yankees, is showing progress and is nearly ready for a rehab assignment. Meanwhile, the Rays called up Christian Arroyo, who had two doubles and two RBIs in yesterday's game and seems readier than ever to compete for a regular job. Mike Zunino played his second rehab game at Charlotte (three Ks in seven innings), which probably means there will be a roster change at the catcher position very soon.
Tonight's game is back to opener Ryne Stanek with Jalen Beeks (4-0) slotted as the bulk-man
Wednesday, May 29. Game 53: Walk-off single by Willy Adames wins game in 11
Rays 4, Blue Jays 3 (11 innings)
Record 34-19
Attendance: 6,166 The second lowest figure in franchise history.
Jose Alvarado did his best to give this one away by allowing a game-tying run in the eighth and leaving with the bases loaded and without getting a single out. The guy who is supposed to be the Rays premier high leverage reliever thus imploded once again. How much longer can the Rays go with him? How much longer can they ignore his inability to command the strike zone, often by throwing his hundred-mile-an hour fast balls into the dirt and often right by a desperate catcher who can't stop the ball from shooting all the way to the backstop? But this time he was saved by his teammates from being the goat he seemed destined to become.
Hunter Wood relieved Alvarado and got a double play, forcing a run at the plate, and then getting a fly out to center. That's the kind of magic it took for Alvarado to limit his failure to his own stats and not the team's won-lost record. The Rays scored in the eleventh on a walk, a single, an intentional walk, and with the bases loaded, a long fly ball by Willy Adames that carried well beyond the drawn-in outfield. Walk-off Willy. Notch up another one-run victory and another extra inning win.
Blake Snell gave up two runs on his first three pitches, a single by leadoff hitter Eric Sogard and a home run by Lourdes Gurriel. But Snell settled down after that and pitched six good innings and leaving with the 3-2 lead that Alvarado gave away. So Snell gets a no decision and lowers his ERA to 3.06. The regular cast of relievers followed Snell: Roe and Kolarek before Alvarado, and Wood and Castillo after Alvarado. Castillo got the win (1-3).
For such a low-scoring game, the teams combined for a surprising 26 hits, 14 for the Rays. Predictably they also combined for 57 runners left on base, 30 for the Rays. The Rays were 3 for 16 (.187) with runners in scoring position.
But in the end, the Rays won their fifth straight, swept the Blue Jays in a three-game set, and ended the night a healthy fifteen games over .500. And they are only one game out of first place, as the Yankees continue hot, 8-2 in their last ten as compared to the Rays' 7-3.
But tonight Rocco Baldelli leads his Minnesota Twins and their major league best 37-17 record into the Trop. It remains to be seen how many people will drop in to see the game.
Record 34-19
Attendance: 6,166 The second lowest figure in franchise history.
Jose Alvarado did his best to give this one away by allowing a game-tying run in the eighth and leaving with the bases loaded and without getting a single out. The guy who is supposed to be the Rays premier high leverage reliever thus imploded once again. How much longer can the Rays go with him? How much longer can they ignore his inability to command the strike zone, often by throwing his hundred-mile-an hour fast balls into the dirt and often right by a desperate catcher who can't stop the ball from shooting all the way to the backstop? But this time he was saved by his teammates from being the goat he seemed destined to become.
Hunter Wood relieved Alvarado and got a double play, forcing a run at the plate, and then getting a fly out to center. That's the kind of magic it took for Alvarado to limit his failure to his own stats and not the team's won-lost record. The Rays scored in the eleventh on a walk, a single, an intentional walk, and with the bases loaded, a long fly ball by Willy Adames that carried well beyond the drawn-in outfield. Walk-off Willy. Notch up another one-run victory and another extra inning win.
Blake Snell gave up two runs on his first three pitches, a single by leadoff hitter Eric Sogard and a home run by Lourdes Gurriel. But Snell settled down after that and pitched six good innings and leaving with the 3-2 lead that Alvarado gave away. So Snell gets a no decision and lowers his ERA to 3.06. The regular cast of relievers followed Snell: Roe and Kolarek before Alvarado, and Wood and Castillo after Alvarado. Castillo got the win (1-3).
For such a low-scoring game, the teams combined for a surprising 26 hits, 14 for the Rays. Predictably they also combined for 57 runners left on base, 30 for the Rays. The Rays were 3 for 16 (.187) with runners in scoring position.
But in the end, the Rays won their fifth straight, swept the Blue Jays in a three-game set, and ended the night a healthy fifteen games over .500. And they are only one game out of first place, as the Yankees continue hot, 8-2 in their last ten as compared to the Rays' 7-3.
But tonight Rocco Baldelli leads his Minnesota Twins and their major league best 37-17 record into the Trop. It remains to be seen how many people will drop in to see the game.
Tuesday, May 28. Game 52: Homers from Meadows and Garcia. Again.
Rays 3, Blue Jays 1
Record: 33-19
Attendance: 5,786 A new low, maybe? An all-time low? In fact, according to Marc Topkin in the Tampa Bay Times, this was indeed the lowest Rays attendance of all time, that would be 22 years. He commented that "there is no excuse for the embarrassment of Tuesday, with the lowest crowd in franchise history." The newspaper for May 30, carried this unbowed quote from team president Brian Auld: "We appreciate the support of our fans, and we believe that St. Petersburg, Tampa, and the entire Tampa Bay region will rally around this exciting and compelling Rays team."
But almost as though he were answering Auld, one Hal Batey of St. Petersburg wrote this to the editor of the same May 30 edition of the Times: "The Tampa Bay Rays have a great fan base. But competing with beaches ins't going to work. I'd much rather go to the local watering hole, pay three bucks for a beer and watch the game there. The fan experience at Tropicana Field involves paid parking, walking, searches, lines, and ridiculously priced everything at a venue that doesn't take cash anymore." This is a fan base or sorts, but it isn't going to keep the team in the Tampa area.
Note too that going to a low attendance game is better than going to a game with transplants who root against the Rays. This is a good team that may have a very serious upside come October, which means either that the crowds will finally catch up to the team they have, or they will continue to ignore the team and guarantee that the franchise will end up in Portland, Montreal, Las Vegas, or elsewhere. Blame the transplants who are too stubborn to embrace their new local team. It's their fault that we (and they) are likely going to lose major league baseball. Then the transplants will be totally stuck. They deserve it.
The game itself was a routine Rays victory, with single runs in the first and third plus one more in the eighth. Two of them came on homers. Austin Meadows, who played right field after two in a row as DH, went 2 for 4, including one of the homers, which puts him at 7 for his last 11 at bats, three homers, and seven RBIs. He's up to 12 homers on the year--and he was on the IL for three weeks. It's hard to imagine a hotter hitter in baseball. The other "homer" was hit by Avisail Garcia, a routine fly ball to short right field that was so completely misplayed by Randal Grichuk that it bounced the length of a double wide behind him rolling all the way to the wall. Garcia, who is so much faster than anyone thought, circled the bases and slid home for an inside-the-park dinger.
Pitching was the story once again as the Rays gave up only six hits all night and would have had a shutout if Diego Castillo could have gotten out of the ninth unscored on. Ryne Stanek opened for two innings, Ryan Yarbrough was the bulker who went three and two-thirds for the win (4-1), and then came Roe, Pagan, and finally Castillo for the slightly sloppy save.
Two roster items. First, two-way guy Brendon McKay made his triple A debut at Durham, after his promotion from double A Montgomery, and worked five scoreless innings. It is not out of the question at this point that he may have an impact on the major league team this summer. The lefthander continues to pitch every sixth day and DH three other days a week, according to the Times, which also reports that Mike Zunino is rehabbing his quad strain at single A Charlotte, where he went 3 for 3 with two walks yesterday. When Zunino returns, it will be interesting to see how the Rays manage the four catchers they currently are supporting. Travis d'Arnaud may have sticking power.
At 33-19, the Rays are 14 games over .500. Up tonight is Blake Snell (3-4), who is pitching better than his record and may be poised to make a big-time impact on the rest of the season.
Record: 33-19
Attendance: 5,786 A new low, maybe? An all-time low? In fact, according to Marc Topkin in the Tampa Bay Times, this was indeed the lowest Rays attendance of all time, that would be 22 years. He commented that "there is no excuse for the embarrassment of Tuesday, with the lowest crowd in franchise history." The newspaper for May 30, carried this unbowed quote from team president Brian Auld: "We appreciate the support of our fans, and we believe that St. Petersburg, Tampa, and the entire Tampa Bay region will rally around this exciting and compelling Rays team."
But almost as though he were answering Auld, one Hal Batey of St. Petersburg wrote this to the editor of the same May 30 edition of the Times: "The Tampa Bay Rays have a great fan base. But competing with beaches ins't going to work. I'd much rather go to the local watering hole, pay three bucks for a beer and watch the game there. The fan experience at Tropicana Field involves paid parking, walking, searches, lines, and ridiculously priced everything at a venue that doesn't take cash anymore." This is a fan base or sorts, but it isn't going to keep the team in the Tampa area.
Note too that going to a low attendance game is better than going to a game with transplants who root against the Rays. This is a good team that may have a very serious upside come October, which means either that the crowds will finally catch up to the team they have, or they will continue to ignore the team and guarantee that the franchise will end up in Portland, Montreal, Las Vegas, or elsewhere. Blame the transplants who are too stubborn to embrace their new local team. It's their fault that we (and they) are likely going to lose major league baseball. Then the transplants will be totally stuck. They deserve it.
The game itself was a routine Rays victory, with single runs in the first and third plus one more in the eighth. Two of them came on homers. Austin Meadows, who played right field after two in a row as DH, went 2 for 4, including one of the homers, which puts him at 7 for his last 11 at bats, three homers, and seven RBIs. He's up to 12 homers on the year--and he was on the IL for three weeks. It's hard to imagine a hotter hitter in baseball. The other "homer" was hit by Avisail Garcia, a routine fly ball to short right field that was so completely misplayed by Randal Grichuk that it bounced the length of a double wide behind him rolling all the way to the wall. Garcia, who is so much faster than anyone thought, circled the bases and slid home for an inside-the-park dinger.
Pitching was the story once again as the Rays gave up only six hits all night and would have had a shutout if Diego Castillo could have gotten out of the ninth unscored on. Ryne Stanek opened for two innings, Ryan Yarbrough was the bulker who went three and two-thirds for the win (4-1), and then came Roe, Pagan, and finally Castillo for the slightly sloppy save.
Two roster items. First, two-way guy Brendon McKay made his triple A debut at Durham, after his promotion from double A Montgomery, and worked five scoreless innings. It is not out of the question at this point that he may have an impact on the major league team this summer. The lefthander continues to pitch every sixth day and DH three other days a week, according to the Times, which also reports that Mike Zunino is rehabbing his quad strain at single A Charlotte, where he went 3 for 3 with two walks yesterday. When Zunino returns, it will be interesting to see how the Rays manage the four catchers they currently are supporting. Travis d'Arnaud may have sticking power.
At 33-19, the Rays are 14 games over .500. Up tonight is Blake Snell (3-4), who is pitching better than his record and may be poised to make a big-time impact on the rest of the season.
Monday, May 27: Game 51: Five inning no hitter--then the hook
Rays 8, Blue Jays 3
Record: 32-19
Attendance: 15,883
Yonny Chirinos had a no hitter going through five innings, 69 pitches, when Manager Kevin Cash gave him the hook. He was surprised, he said after the game, but was satisfied that management had his best interests at heart. Not his short-term best interests certainly, but his long-term best interests. And who knows? Maybe Cash's approach keeps his pitchers fresh in October--if the Rays play themselves into post-season October games. Meantime, Chirinos picked up his sixth win of the year. And the Rays are thirteen games over .500 on Memorial Day.
Today the Rays played efficiently and had the game in hand early, scoring a single run in the second, three more in the fourth, and holding a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth when Austin Meadows launched a two-run homer to right for an 8-2 lead, the final score being 8-3. The home run was Meadows' 11th of the year, and his 3 for 5 game gives him a two-game total of 7 for 9, including two homers and six RBIs. Oh, and he also stole a base. He was in the leadoff DH slot for both games.
Altogether the Rays had 14 hits, even Travis d'Arnaud contributing three (including a comebacker to the mound that deflected off the pitcher's glove and rolled into left field for a double) and everyone but Brandon Lowe getting at least one hit. The relief corps of Drake, Roe, Wood, Alvarado, and Kolarek was uneven with Wood and Kolarek giving up home runs. Overall, however, it was a piece of cake.
Sometimes they make it look easy.
Record: 32-19
Attendance: 15,883
Yonny Chirinos had a no hitter going through five innings, 69 pitches, when Manager Kevin Cash gave him the hook. He was surprised, he said after the game, but was satisfied that management had his best interests at heart. Not his short-term best interests certainly, but his long-term best interests. And who knows? Maybe Cash's approach keeps his pitchers fresh in October--if the Rays play themselves into post-season October games. Meantime, Chirinos picked up his sixth win of the year. And the Rays are thirteen games over .500 on Memorial Day.
Today the Rays played efficiently and had the game in hand early, scoring a single run in the second, three more in the fourth, and holding a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth when Austin Meadows launched a two-run homer to right for an 8-2 lead, the final score being 8-3. The home run was Meadows' 11th of the year, and his 3 for 5 game gives him a two-game total of 7 for 9, including two homers and six RBIs. Oh, and he also stole a base. He was in the leadoff DH slot for both games.
Altogether the Rays had 14 hits, even Travis d'Arnaud contributing three (including a comebacker to the mound that deflected off the pitcher's glove and rolled into left field for a double) and everyone but Brandon Lowe getting at least one hit. The relief corps of Drake, Roe, Wood, Alvarado, and Kolarek was uneven with Wood and Kolarek giving up home runs. Overall, however, it was a piece of cake.
Sometimes they make it look easy.
Sunday, May 26. Game 50: Meadows, 4 for 4 with a homer, Bulker Beeks gets the win
Rays 6, Indians 3
Record: 31-19
Attendance: 20,288
It was back to openers and bulkers today, Ryne Stanek going one and two-thirds, followed by Jalen Beeks, who pitched four and two-thirds (two hits, three walks, but no runs) for the win, putting his record at 4-0. It seemed like an uneventful afternoon through seven innings and a 5-0 Rays lead when newly called up Oliver Drake gave up a run before being replaced by Adam Kolarek, who gave up two more in a third of an inning. Suddenly it was a 6-3 game--and the great adventure began again: Jose Alvarado. Fresh off Manager Kevin Cash's vocal support of his suddenly vulnerable (unofficial) closer, Alvarado made short work of the last two batters in the ninth inning this time.
The Rays won the series, three games to one and raised their record to 32-19, twelve games over .500 for the first time this year. Solid. Even though they are two full games behind the Yankees, these Rays are poised nicely at the end of fifty games for a serious run at the post season. If they can keep it up.
Finishing out the month, the Blue Jays and Twins are at the Trop with old friends as new opposing managers making appearances, Charlie Montoya with the Blue Jays and Rocco Baldelli with the Twins.
Record: 31-19
Attendance: 20,288
It was back to openers and bulkers today, Ryne Stanek going one and two-thirds, followed by Jalen Beeks, who pitched four and two-thirds (two hits, three walks, but no runs) for the win, putting his record at 4-0. It seemed like an uneventful afternoon through seven innings and a 5-0 Rays lead when newly called up Oliver Drake gave up a run before being replaced by Adam Kolarek, who gave up two more in a third of an inning. Suddenly it was a 6-3 game--and the great adventure began again: Jose Alvarado. Fresh off Manager Kevin Cash's vocal support of his suddenly vulnerable (unofficial) closer, Alvarado made short work of the last two batters in the ninth inning this time.
The Rays won the series, three games to one and raised their record to 32-19, twelve games over .500 for the first time this year. Solid. Even though they are two full games behind the Yankees, these Rays are poised nicely at the end of fifty games for a serious run at the post season. If they can keep it up.
Finishing out the month, the Blue Jays and Twins are at the Trop with old friends as new opposing managers making appearances, Charlie Montoya with the Blue Jays and Rocco Baldelli with the Twins.
Saturday, May 25. Game 49: Morton rights the ship
Rays 6, Indians 2
Record: 30-19
Attendance: 25,882
Delivering one of his best games of the year, Charlie Morton tossed six innings of one run, three-hit and two-walk baseball keeping the Cleveland Indians off balance and earning his fifth win of the year without a loss. Casey Sadler gave up a home run to Carlos Santana in the bottom of the eighth. Diego Castillo finished it out.
Morton was supported by three long balls, by Tommy Pham (8), Brandon Lowe (11), and Ji-Man Choi (4). In all the Rays had 12 hits on the night, and though they won handily, they left 15 on base, always a troublesome statistic.
The LOB problem is illustrated by their futility with the bases loaded, a pathetic 5 for 35 (.143), if the Tampa Bay Times statistics today can be trusted. In the fourth inning, they loaded the bases with one out , but Kevin Kiermaier and Travis d'Arnaud struck out. A too familiar pattern.
The game was scheduled to begin at 4:10 but was delayed nearly three hours for an imminent rain that never came.
The Rays are back up to eleven games over .500, a strong statistic.
Record: 30-19
Attendance: 25,882
Delivering one of his best games of the year, Charlie Morton tossed six innings of one run, three-hit and two-walk baseball keeping the Cleveland Indians off balance and earning his fifth win of the year without a loss. Casey Sadler gave up a home run to Carlos Santana in the bottom of the eighth. Diego Castillo finished it out.
Morton was supported by three long balls, by Tommy Pham (8), Brandon Lowe (11), and Ji-Man Choi (4). In all the Rays had 12 hits on the night, and though they won handily, they left 15 on base, always a troublesome statistic.
The LOB problem is illustrated by their futility with the bases loaded, a pathetic 5 for 35 (.143), if the Tampa Bay Times statistics today can be trusted. In the fourth inning, they loaded the bases with one out , but Kevin Kiermaier and Travis d'Arnaud struck out. A too familiar pattern.
The game was scheduled to begin at 4:10 but was delayed nearly three hours for an imminent rain that never came.
The Rays are back up to eleven games over .500, a strong statistic.
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