A couple of questions lingered prior to the first pitch Friday night; would the Rays be able to bounce back from another disappointing loss, and could Chris Archer put together a decent outing — that is, decent enough to keep the Rays in the game. The resounding answers to both, yes and yes. Tampa Bay took the second game of the series against the Angels by a score of 3-0, thanks to an improved outing by Chris Archer, and key hits in the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings…and the ‘pen wasn’t half bad either.
Things started on a fairly bizarre note, with a cow milking contest between Angels INF Luis Jimenez and David Price. I’d reckon it’s no more odd than a first pitch throwing baby T-Rex, but still…
[youtube_sc url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-9HAW_JYNc”]
Credited with his first win since April 19th, Chris Archer put together a much improved 5.2 IP/2 H/0 R/5 BB/5 K/104 pitch outing. Granted his command woes are still concerning — five walks, and eight three-ball counts speak to that — the animated righty did an excellent job of working around a pair of self incurred threats in the second and fifth innings. Archer was especially impressive in the fifth inning, after walking the bases loaded with two-outs. Archer coaxed a fielder’s choice out of Albert Pujols, throwing an 87 mph slider in the heart of the zone which Pujols chopped down the third base line. Longo fielded the play, and ended the inning by forcing Erick Aybar at third.
Archer once again increased the reliance on his upper-90’s fastball and sinker, making his upper-80’s slider that much more effective. In fact, Archer was fairly whiffy with his off-speed stuff, throwing his slider for strikes 17 times while inducing six swings and misses. He was locked in all the way through the fifth inning, peppering the bottom of the zone with the above mentioned pitches, and though he didn’t throw a single changeup, this was one of those games where it really seemed like he didn’t need to.
Juan Carlos Oviedo came on in relief of Archer two outs in the sixth inning, and only needed one pitch (a sinking fastball to Hank Conger) to get out of the inning. Conger grounded into the shift and Logan Forsythe — ranging to his right — fielded the play, getting Conger at first by a foot. The seventh inning was Jake McGee’s.
McGee quickly got the first two outs, then gave up a single to Erik Aybar and walked Mike Trout on five pitches, bringing Pujols to the plate. But Pujols popped-out out to right field on an elevated fastball.
Joel Peralta worked a clean, four out, eighth inning. Howie Kendrick hit a grounder to Yunel Escobar, who made an impressive diving play. Escobar fired the ball to Loney at first, and it appeared that the shortstop/first baseman tandem got the out. The play was ultimately too close to overturn, and upon a challenge, Howie Kendrick’s one-out single stood.
Grant Balfour, who blew the game Thursday, returned in the exact same situation as the night previous; a three-run lead, and the eighth, ninth, and first batters in the order due. Balfour threw fourteen pitches (twelve fastballs), popping the first two batters up and then striking out Aybar looking. As Ian Malinowski of DRaysBay asserted, “This is the Balfour that the Rays will need if they are to make a run, and this is why Maddon is not going to demote him any time soon, even if he continues to struggle. Maddon’s job right now is to get Grant Balfour pitching well. That’s where the most potential success lies, not in a triple-A arm or a closer controversy.”
Offensively speaking, thanks to the bullpen, the Rays only needed one run to win. Still, three runs are better than one. Angels killer Yunel Escobar put the Rays on the board, crushing a solo shot off of Jered Weaver in the fifth inning. In the top of the seventh, Evan Longoria walked then swiped second, and James Loney singled him home. In the Eighth, Desmond Jennings and Wil Myers walked, and Longoria singled Jennings home.
The New What Next
Cesar Ramos will attempt to bounce back from his previous 6-2/3 inning start, where he gave up five earned runs. Ramos will toe the rubber opposite of CJ Wilson, who’s picking up where he left off last season. CJ Wilson’s HR/FB has increased over that of 2013 — but then again, so has his K/9. Wilson has normalized somewhat following an inflated season the year prior, which isn’t necessarily good news since he’s been tough on the Rays — extending back to his time with the Rangers. You can read about tonight’s pitching matchup in our series preview, and I’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.
Rays 5/17/14 Starting Lineup
Guyer LF
Myers RF
Longoria 3B
Rodriguez 2B
Escobar SS
Forsythe DH
Loney 1B
Molina C
Kiermaier CF
Ramos LHP
Noteworthiness
- ICYMI — Per MLB Trade Rumors, the Rays have agreed to a minor league deal with infielder Jayson Nix. Nix will start out at Triple-A, according to Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish. Nix, 31, recently elected free agency after being outrighted by the Phillies. While in Philadelphia, he put up a .154/.214/.231 triple-slash while appearing all around the infield in 18 games. Nix came over from the Rays via trade just before the season started after spending the spring with Tampa Bay. For the Rays, Nix represents additional depth up the middle with regular second baseman Ben Zobrist on the DL. The club is currently relying on Logan Forsythe, Sean Rodriguez, and recent call-up Cole Figueroa at second.
- The Rays have placed Jennings on the bereavement list, recalling Kevin Kiermaier.
- Per Marc Topkin, Ryan Hanigan left the game after 7-½ innings with what he said was either cramping or a mild strain of his right hamstring but was hopeful he would feel better today and not miss much time. “We did some treatment and checked it out and I don’t think anything is blown out,” he said. “I just think it’s a little cramp, maybe a mild strain but I think I’ll be okay.”