Ramirez walked the tightrope all night, yet he used the Nationals aggressiveness to his advantage, enabling him to earn his career-high sixth win. The righty stranded nine men on base (while holding Washington to 1-5 wRISP) over the first five frames, including a pair of high leverage, bases loaded situations the third and fifth innings. Despite the mounting pitch count, Kevin Cash let Ramirez take the hill in the sixth with 93 pitches under his belt. The smiley guy put down the Nationals in order on 10 pitches, including a pair of swinging strikeouts of Danny Espinosa and Ian Desmond.
Erasmo spoke about his third scoreless start of the season after the game:
After Ramirez, the lefty tandem of CJ Riefenhauser and Enny Romero followed with a pair of scoreless innings. Riefenhauser allowed one batter to reach — Denard Span on a leadoff walk — yet put down the next three batters (Anthony Rendon, Yunel Escobar and Bryce Harper) to shut the door on the Nats in the seventh.
Cash called upon Xavier Cedeno in the ninth. Cedeno made things a little too interesting by walking the leadoff batter, Michael Taylor, then loading the bases on a pair of one-out singles to Dan Uggla and Rendon. The LOOGY allowed a run to cross the plate before Bryce Harper lined to Nick Franklin, resulting in a game-ending double play.
Offensively, the Rays were able to knock lefty Gio Gonzalez out of the game in the fourth, his shortest outing of the season.
Kevin Kiermaier started the scoring in the second, reaching on a hustle double in front of center fielder Denard Span. The Outlaw then swiped third, and scored on a Rene Rivera sac-fly.
Tampa Bay added to the lead with a pair of runs in the third. Joey Butler, Evan Longoria and Logan Forsythe went back-to-back-to-back with base hits, with the last hit scoring a run. Steven Souza Jr. walked, and Jake Elmore celebrated his 28th birthday by hitting a sac-fly for the three-run advantage. Souza walked five times, tying a Rays record set last season by Matt Joyce.
The Rays chased Gonzalez the very next inning after Rivera singled to left, Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch, and Joey Butler singled to load the bases. Longoria followed with a sacrifice-fly to — the third sac-fly of the night for the Rays, and the first time Tampa Bay had that many in nearly two years. Forsythe gave the good guys a five run lead on his third hit of the night.
They added one last run in the fifth after Guyer tripled off reliever Taylor Hill. Guyer’s hit scored Kiermaier from second, after he reached on a leadoff double to right.
All told, the rays had 11 hits: three by Forsythe, and two each by Kiermaier and Butler.
Longoria left the game in the fifth after being hit by a pitch on the left wrist. X-Rays on his wrist came back negative and Longoria is listed as day-to-day after suffering a contusion on that wrist:
The New What Next
Alex Colome (3-2, 4.21 ERA) will make his 10th start of the season, opposite of RHP Tanner Roark. Of Colome’s 15 career starts, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer 11 times and has yielded no earned runs six times. Roark has done okay since joining the rotation, going 2-2 with a 4.64 ERA in four starts. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 6/16/15 Starting Lineup
Kiermaier CF
Butler DH
Longoria 3B
DeJesus LF
Forsythe 2B
Souza RF
Cabrera SS
Elmore 1B
Rivera C
Colome RHP
Noteworthiness
— Ramirez is 6-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his past 14 appearances (eight starts) since April 19. Prior to that, he had a 25.31 ERA.
— Tampa Bay won against a lefty starter for the ninth straight time.
— Only three teams in majors have more wins than the Rays: Cardinals (42), Dodgers (37), Astros (37).
— The Rays are deciding whether to promote Ronald Belisario, who has 17 saves at Triple-A Durham, or let him hit the free-agent. Belisario notified the team Monday he would use his opt-out clause. They have until Wednesday to decide.
Belisario, 32, has a 3.26 ERA and 17 saves in 19 opportunities in 27 Durham appearances.
— After being rained out in Port Charlotte, Matt Moore will try to make his third rehab start for the Stone Crabs this afternoon. DH/OF John Jaso is expected to join the team on their upcoming road trip to start taking full batting practice. He, however, will need a rehab assignment and is several weeks from being activated from the DL. Righties Jake Odorizzi and Andrew Bellatti played catch Monday afternoon, 35 throws at 75 feet, and reportedly felt good. LHP Drew Smyly played catch as well.
— Congratulations to the Lightning for an excellent season! That said, can everyone PLEASE focus on that scrappy baseball team…you know the Tampa Bay Rays, who happen to be in first place? This lack of fan support is draining. No more excuses, get out to the Trop and support your damn team!
— The St. Louis Cardinals are being investigated by the F.B.I. for hacking the Houston Astros. Buckle up, kids, this is going to be a crazy ride.