Had you asked Joe Maddon or Jim Hickey what they hoped for out of Wednesday night’s game, they would have said a win, and the opportunity to allow the tired relievers some rest following Tuesday night’s 14-inning marathon. Two pitchers, 13 strikeouts, and two hours and 51 minutes later, the Rays not only met Maddon and Hickey’s expectations, they exceeded them. Tampa Bay put together a 10-1 shellacking of the Rangers, thanks to a masterful seven IP start by Chris Archer, and a 12 hit/10 run offensive charge (which included three early home runs) led by Matt Joyce, Sean Rodriguez, and Brandon Guyer.
Category Archives: Looking Backward While Moving Forward
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall in Extra Innings, 3-2…Again
We awaited the triumphant return of Jeremy Hellickson from the DL with baited breath, only to be somewhat letdown by his first three starts — I say somewhat, because though he wasn’t terrible, Hellickson certainly wasn’t at the top of his game. The former Rookie of the Year pitcher turned the corner in his August 6 start against Oakland, yet a question still lingered — could he string together quality starts with consistency? If his start against the Texas Rangers Tuesday night was indicative of anything, it’s yes he can. Yet what started as a pitching duel between he and Nick Tepesch, turned into a 3-2 Rangers’ victory in 14 innings – one that sadly obscured Hellickson’s quality start.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Smyly, Rays Blank the Rangers, 7-0
In short, Tampa Bay was able to tag Colby Lewis and the Rangers for seven runs in the series opener, behind an excellent start by Drew Smyly.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Odorizzi, Rays Blank Cubs 4-0, Take Series
On a cool and windy day on the north side of Chicago, the Tampa Bay Rays walked away from the friendly confines of Wrigley Field with their second consecutive win — a combined 4-0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs. Jake Odorizzi, Kirby Yates, and Jake McGee were dominant, limiting the Cubs to five hits, while posting a staggering 15 strikeouts. I, one of X-Rays Spex’s field documentarians, took in the sights and sound of the game from the left hand side of Wrigley. You can read a realtime account* of Saturday’s contest at out Tumblr page. Otherwise, what follows is a recap from Michael Nazarro, and a few game peripherals from yours truly.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Beat Cubs in Extra Innings, 4-3
Let me preface this by saying that trying to watch a baseball game on ESPN’s Livecast is incredibly difficult when you’re also trying to speak to parents at the summer camp you work at. It’s an awkward situation when you utter an obscenity under your breath after you see the Chicago Cubs take an early lead, as a parent walks up to pick up their kid. That being said, I have to now ask, where has the offense — or rather the clutch offense — been? Coming into this game, since what is more and more beginning to seem like one of the darkest days in recent history (the Price trade), the Rays are 2-6. And save for the Odorizzi’s five run first inning Sunday, the pitching has been all in all solid.