X-Rays Spex

A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

LBWMF: staying alive, Tampa Bay Rays defeat Baltimore, 8-3

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Wilson’s second inning grand slam was the difference in last night’s ball game. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Wilson Ramos hit a second inning grand slam, the difference in Friday night’s game, while Alex Cobb battled through six innings, as the Tampa Bay Rays pounded the Orioles, 8-3, in Baltimore. Evan Longoria’s third inning solo shot tied the club record for home runs set last season. Tampa Bay starts the day still hanging on to its slim postseason chances, five games back of the last Wildcard spot with eight games left to play.

After a pair of 1-2-3 frames by Ubaldo Jimenez and Alex Cobb, Logan Morrison started the Rays’ second inning rally when he was hit by an 0-2 pitch. The HBP came just one pitch after Morrison painfully fouled a ball off his ankle. Suffice it to say he was in a lot of pain following that plate appearance, yet he stayed in the game. Steven Souza Jr. and Corey Dickerson went back-to-back with seeing eye singles (to center and right, respectively) loading the bases for the Buffalo. Ramos didn’t waste any time, and belted a first-pitch fastball 439 feet into the left field seats for an early four-run lead.

It was the fourth grand slam for Tampa Bay this season, and the 10th homer for Ramos in 2017.

Yet Baltimore answered in the bottom of the frame against Cobb, loading the bases on a pair of seeing eye singles, and a walk. Austin Hays hit a sacrifice-fly to center to put the Orioles on the board, while their second run crossed the plate on the first of two wild pitches by the right-hander.

Determined not to have their death warrant signed on this fateful evening, the Rays bounced back with two more runs in the top of the third. Evan Longoria homered to start the inning, his 19th of the season and the 216th of Tampa Bay’s 2017 campaign, tying the franchise record set last year. After Morrison and Ramos reached on a couple of base hits sandwiched around a couple of outs, Adeiny Hechavarria drove in the second run of the frame on a base hit to center, chasing Jimenez.

The run support was more than enough for Cobb, who battled throughout his start — only collecting one clean frame in the first. Yet the right-hander made the all important big pitches when he needed to, while also benefitting from his defense. For example, in the third inning, with a runner in scoring position, Dickerson threw out Manny Machado at the plate as he attempted to score on an Adam Jones single, cutting down a potential run.

Baltimore got one run closer when Chris Davis hit a solo homer in the fourth, however, Dickerson’s fifth inning RBI double, scoring Souza, again gave Tampa Bay a four-run lead.

Steve Cishek took over for Cobb in the seventh inning and worked around a single, while Tommy Hunter fanned the side in the side on 15 pitches in the following inning.

The Rays scored one last run in the ninth on Lucas Duda’s double to right-center — snapping an 0-20 skid, and scoring Kevin Kiermaier, who was hit by a pitch.

Finally, Brad Boxberger worked around a one-out walk in the ninth inning, fanning the side and putting Baltimore out of its misery.

The New What Next

Jake Odorizzi (9-8, 4.46 ERA, 5.72 FIP) will take the mound for the Rays in the third game of four, pitching opposite of former Rays right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (2-5, 7.29 ERA, 6.57 FIP).

Odorizzi no-hit the Red Sox into the sixth inning on Sunday before he allowed a walk and a two-run homer to Jackie Bradley Jr. The right-hander had a live fastball, coaxing 15 swings-and-misses on his 96 pitches, including 10 on his 61 fastballs. Odorizzi has now allowed just three earned runs across 16-1/3 innings in his last three starts.

Hellickson, in his last start against the New York Yankees on Sunday, was shelled for six runs on four hits (including two home runs) and four walks over just three innings of work. The former Ray has given up three runs or fewer in only four of his nine starts as an Oriole, while performing to a 7.28 ERA/6.16 FIP since the All-Star break. Suffice it to say, the right-hander hasn’t looked nearly as good as he did in his year and a half stint with the Phillies. Key Matchups: Lucas Duda (7-14, 4 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (3-10, HR, 3 RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview.

Rays 9/23/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Duda 1B
Longoria 3B
Morrison DH
Souza Jr. RF
Dickerson LF
Ramos C
Miller 2B
Hechavarria SS
Odorizzi RHP

Noteworthiness

— Adeiny Hechavarria has been a very good acquisition for the Rays. How good? Hechavarria hasn’t committed an error since August 1. Compare that with Orioles SS Tim Beckham, who has committed 9. Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) during that time, Hechavarria ranks first in the league at the position with a 1.000 fielding percentage; Beckham is 25th of the 27 qualifiers at .959. I’d argue that it would be wise for the Rays to offer Hechavarria a long-term deal — or in the very least a contract extension — move Miller off 2B, and allow Willy Adames and Daniel Robertson to platoon the middle infield. Then again the Rays ownership is notoriously cheap, so…

Rays 9/22/17 starting lineup and pregame notes; Tampa just isn’t that in love with the Rays

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Friday = bump day for Alex Cobb. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a disappointing, momentum killing 3-1 loss in Baltimore on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays will try to bounce back tonight in game two of four. The Rays needs to go 7-2 over the next nine games to end the season at .500, and win outright to even continue their hopes for an improbable postseason berth.

Tampa Bay was held to just one run five hits last night, and now have been limited to two runs or fewer in six of the last nine games. Meanwhile, Matt Andriese bounced back from a tenuous three-run, four-hit first inning to hold the Orioles scoreless over the remainder of his six inning, eight strikeout start.

The New What Next

lex Cobb (11-10, 3.63 ERA, 4.15 FIP) will start for the Rays tonight, pitching opposite of Ubaldo Jimenez (6–10 6.57).

Cobb took a loss to Boston on Saturday, in a 5.1 IP/3 ER outing. That prevented him from becoming the first Rays pitcher with four wins over the Red Sox in a single season. Nevertheless, the right-hander he has a 2.98 ERA in 16 starts since June 9, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 14 of those 16 starts.

Jimenez fanned 10 batters and allowed just one earned run over five solid innings in his last turn. It was the second-most strikeouts he’s had in a game this season. He, however, is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay this season, while averaging under four innings of work in each outing. Key Matchups: Adeiny Hechvarria (4-7, 2B, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (3-12, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (7-22, 2 HR, 8 RBI), Logan Morrison (6-14, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB), Wilson Ramos (1-2, 2B), Daniel Robertson (1-2)

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 9/22/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Duda DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Dickerson LF
Ramos C
Hechavarria SS
Robertson 2B
Cobb RHP

Noteworthiness

— Tim Beckham will be in the lineup tonight vs. his ex-Rays mates, hitting leadoff and playing short.

— From the mouth of Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) to your ears:

The Rays still talk about having a shot to make the playoffs. But recognizing and correcting mistakes will help them next year, such as Mallex Smith trying to steal third in the first. “Those are the little things we’ve got to find how to eliminate real quick,” manager Kevin Cash said.

— Contrary to what Ken Hagan or Bob Buckhorn might lead you to believe, it appears that a new Rays stadium in Tampa is not a top priority, at least for the taxpayers. According to Tampa Bay Times staff writer, Richard Danielson, 89 percent of respondents to a survey of Tampa citizens prioritize the improvement of streets and easing flooding, over keeping the Rays in the area, much less building a new facility across the bay.

Practically tied for second were police/community relations and mass transportation options, including light rail. Both were rated as important by nearly 75 percent of those surveyed.

Keeping the Tampa Bay Rays in the region came toward the very bottom of the list of taxpayer priorities (39.4 percent). You know, because what’s the point in building a stadium IF YOU CAN’T GET THERE SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY?

Rays remain optimistic, Cubs fans turn the Trop into Wrigley south, and roster moves

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The quiet before the rather tepid offensive storm Tuesday night. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)

After a 2-1 loss to the reigning World Series champions on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays will look to rebound and split the short two-game set, and the season series, with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have won seven straight, while the Rays have won just one game in each of the last three series. They would need to go 8-3 over the final 11 games to finish at .500, while their postseason hopes are all but nonexistent at this point.

Optimism will make you suffer fools gladly.
I’m holding out for you to do the right thing,
Emphatically.

— American Steel

In spite of the monumental odds against them, Rays’ players, like Blake Snell and Steven Souza Jr., remain optimistic that they can salvage the season. Optimism is an intoxicating drug.

I feel all of us still think there’s a shot, said Snell. We all want to do it. We’re all in this together. We always felt there was a shot from the start and all the way to the end.

Souza was a bit more realistic:

We’re running out of time.

Of course Tampa Bay’s playoffs chances have all but evaporated — they start the day five games out of the final Wilcard spot with just 12 games left to play. It certainly doesn’t help that the offense has been all but nonexistent in three of the last four games.

What also doesn’t help, which Chris Archer pointed out last night, is the glaring lack of support from the Rays’ loyal fanbase.

Having 25,000 Cub fans here, wasn’t very fun either.

It’s weird, I didn’t know we had that many mid-western people in Tampa, but I guess we do. It’s just weird for their players to come out and get announced and just get so much love.

It felt like we were at Citi Field, playing the Yankees. Honestly, it felt very similar to that…and I’m not being critical it was just crazy how much royal blue there was out there.

When Wilson Contreras ran out to warm up the pitcher…like he got a standing o.

I’ve been here for however long, I’ve seen some really, really good players come and I’ve never seen anybody get as much love when they go to warm up then some of their players did.

It was definitely more of a road environment as opposed to a home environment tonight.

Granted there are myriad reasons why Rays’ fans skipped out of Tuesday night’s ball game. Although in all fairness, if that was just the second largest crowd of the season, that’s pretty sad. It is clearly evident that there is stadium saga induced PTSD which has affected the attendance all season long. Pair that with an ownership that apparently does not possess the want or the desire to stop being cheap, and start spending money to compete.

The effect on the players has become palpable, and now they — by way of the more vocal players, like Chris Archer — are letting us know how the lack of fans impacts the collective psyche of the team. If we fans want to see a diminished presence from the visiting team’s fan base, then it is up to all of us to purchase those tickets and plant our bottoms into those seats first and foremost.

The New What Next

Blake Snell (3-6, 4.25 ERA, 4.36 FIP) will start for the Rays, pitching opposite of Jon Lester (11-7, 4.30 ERA, 4.05 FIP).

Snell allowed just a run on two hits against the Yankees on Tuesday, yet he walked away with a no decision. The southpaw threw 51/83 pitches for strikes, although he didn’t stick around long enough to benefit from Adeiny Hechavarria’s game-winning solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. He now is 3-1 with a 3.75 ERA in 11 post-All-Star Game starts, and has given up two runs or fewer in four of his last five outings — performing to a 2.73 ERA with a 28/8 K/BB over that 29-2/3 inning stretch. Snell faced the Cubs on July 5 but took a no-decision after tossing five scoreless frames.

Lester is no stranger to beginning games slowly. He threw 78 pitches over the first three innings against the Mets in his last start, yet needed just 36 over the final three innings. In spite of that, he’s won each of his last two outing, allowing just three runs over 12 total innings of work. Lester is 13-10 with a 4.22 ERA in 29 games against the Rays, including a five inning loss on July 4 when he allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits including a homer. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (7-17, 2B, BB), Danny Espinosa (2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, Adeiny Hechavarria (3-10, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Evan Longoria (14-58, 3 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 7 BB), Brad Miller (1-3), Steven Souza Jr. (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI)

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 9/20/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Souza Jr. RF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Ramos C
Hechavarria SS
Puello DH
Miller 2B
Bourjos LF
Snell LHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays added two players to the roster this afternoon. INF Daniel Robertson will rejoin the Rays, as will RHP Chih-Wei Hu. Additionally, Xavier Cedeno will be activated from the 60-day DL, after rehabbing with Durham. A corresponding move will need to be made to make room for Cedeno.

Evan Longoria, Kahwa Coffee team up to raise money for hurricane relief efforts

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The face of the Tampa Bay Rays, Evan Longoria, and Tampa Bay coffee purveyors, Kahwa Roasting Company, are teaming up to debut Signature Series No. 3, a new blend of coffee that will be sold regionally, with proceeds to benefit Hurricane Irma relief efforts, as well as local charities.

“The blend, sourced from three high-quality beans, was selected by Longoria and will be introduced Tuesday.” It will be available at all 12 Tampa Bay Kahwa locations, KahwaCoffee.com, as well as Tropicana Field starting on September 19th.

The team is still raising money for Hurricane Irma relief efforts, with a goal set for $500,000. You can read about those efforts, and more, here.

Tampa Bay Rays 9/16/17 starting lineup and pregame notes

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Hurricane Hechavarria struck again Friday night, hitting a sixth inning homer that extended the Rays lead to three. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

After a frustrating six hour and five minute 13-6 loss to Boston on Friday night, the Tampa Bay Rays look to bounce back this afternoon. Tampa Bay has dropped six of eight games after getting back to the .500 mark.

As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio Blog) noted, Kevin Kiermaier did homer for the third straight game, tying the longest streak of his career. Wilson Ramos had his first multi-homer game with the Rays, and gave the Rays 23 homers from their catchers, adding to the franchise’s single-season record. Kiermaier also flashed his Gold Glove defense last night.

The New What Next

Alex Cobb (11-9, 3.59 ERA, 4.16 FIP) will get the start for the Rays, pitching opposite of Rick Porcello (9-17, 4.64 ERA, 4.56 FIP).

Cobb has won his last two outings and has delivered quality starts in each of his last three, the most recent of which came against Boston. The right-hander held the Red Sox to just one earned run, although it took him 93 pitches to navigate five-plus innings. Cobb is 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 13 career starts against Boston, and 23-18 with a 3.07 ERA in 57 career starts at the Trop.

Porcello kept the Red Sox in the game last time out although he lost, allowing two runs on five over innings against the Rays.  Porcello enjoyed a strong outing overall, although it was tarnished in the fifth inning when he allowed a pair of runs on four hits and a walk. He ran up his pitch count and did not return for the sixth, marking the second consecutive outing in which he failed to complete six innings. While it was an improvement on the seven runs he allowed in his previous turn, the sinkerballer has still allowed 14 runs over 21-2/3 innings in his last four outings. In five starts vs. Tampa Bay in 2017, Porcello is 1-4 with a 4.91 ERA. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (2-7), Curt Casali (3-10), Danny Espinosa (1-3, HR, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (15-58, 6 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 4 BB), Brad Miller (11-34, 4 2B, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB), Logan Morrison (10-34, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (9-30, HR, RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview.

Rays 9/16/17 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Souza Jr. RF
Longoria 3B
Duda 1B
Ramos C
Dickerson DH
Hechavarria SS
Miller 2B
Smith LF
Cobb RHP

Noteworthiness

— The Durham Bulls became the second Rays affiliate to win a championship last night, joining the Hudson Valley Renegades. The Bulls beat the Yankees affiliate 6-4 to win the International League title 3-1.

It marked the first time in eight years that the Rays had two title winners in one season.

INF Jake Bauers was named Finals MVP, while INF Daniel Robertson homered and drove in four runs. The Bulls will play on Tuesday in the Triple-A National Championship in Scranton, PA against either Memphis or El Paso.