The Tampa Bay Rays extended their winning streak to four games Sunday — simultaneously extending the Boston Red Sox’s losing streak to 10 in. The Rays will head to Toronto following this afternoon, ahead of a three-game set against a red-hot Blue Jays.
Source: FanGraphs
Since I’m in the midst of writing a series preview, you can read a blow-by-blow account of today’s contest at our Tumblr page. Below are some brief observations of the game.
Game Peripherals
- Jake Odorizzi, put together a quality outing — yes! Odorizzi was great, commanding the outer portions of the zone effectively, while working through a couple of jams and ultimately limiting the Red Sox to one run. His line: 6 IP/4 H/1 ER/1 BB/5 K on 108 pitches (74 strikes, 69% K%).
- Longo: 8-17 over the series, and 3-5 on the day with a homer, two-runs, and an RBI. Is he back?
- Brandon Guyer again had a great day at the plate, going 2-3 with a walk and a run.
- Oh yeah, in case you hadn’t heard, there was an on-field skirmish between the Rays and the Massholes, when Yunel Escobar stole third base uncontested. The Boston bench took exception to the play, and David Ross — who jawed off to the umpire last night — chirped at Escobar who was on third. Shortly after Ross and Escobar exchanged words and made gestures toward one another, the benches cleared and Jonny Gomes ran in from the outfield — pushing Rays third-base coach Tom Foley out of the way, and making light contact with Yuni. Players from both teams met near third base, but the situation was defused a short time later. Gomes, along with two Rays — Sean Rodriguez and Yunel Escobar — were ejected from the game.
- Rays manager Joe Maddon was quoted after the game, “The Red Sox were totally in wrong in objecting to a steal with a five-run lead.” He went on to say they should recall when Jacoby Ellsbury stole second with a sizable lead, in game one of last season’s ALDS. Per a tweet from Marc Topkin,
#Rays Escobar declines comment beyond statement saying that as far as he’s concerned it’s over
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 25, 2014