Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays, Price Shut Down Twins, 7-3

Going into this series, the Rays had one simple task at hand: take (at least) two of three from a team they could beat. In the interim, while Alex Cobb and Jeremy Hellickson are on the DL, Tampa Bay needs to win series’ against teams like the Twins, while putting together a .500 record against teams like Boston and New York. David Price knew this well, and he responded in kind Tuesday night — putting together an impressive 112 pitch, complete game victory against Minnesota.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall to Yankees, 5-1, Roster Moves, Etc

The Rays fell to the Yankees by a score of 5-1 Sunday, walking away with a series tie after the four hour and 23 minute, extra innings, contest. Credit where it’s due, the Rays pitching staff, with Cesar Ramos at the charge, was great until the 12th inning, when CJ Riefenhauser and Josh Lueke were …

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Crush Yankees, 16-1

Just a day removed from the Rays’ come from behind victory against the Bronx Bombers Friday, Tampa Bay absolutely destroyed the Yankees Saturday night, handing Derek Jeter and company a crushing 16-1 loss — a score worthy of a football game. The Rays will walk into the series finale Sunday, having scored 29 runs in three-games — more than they scored in the previous 11 games combined. The 16 runs matched the club’s most since April 4, 2011 in Boston, and are the second most at home in franchise history (17 vs Baltimore, Sep 5, 2007). Wil Myers (3-4, 4 R, 4 RBI) and Ryan Hanigan (3-4, 2 R, 6 RBI) each homered twice, while Evan Longoria smacked career homer number 164. Longo now owns the franchise record for home runs. Archer was credited the win (2-1) while Ivan Nova, who gave up eight earned runs, was charged with the loss. Nova left the game in the fifth inning with what was reported as a partial tear of ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He’ll be placed on the DL Sunday.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: O’s Handcuff Rays 7-1, Matt Moore to Receive Tommy John Surgery

Perhaps you could blame it on his inability to throw quality strikes. Or, maybe you could blame it his lack of command, leaving fastball after fastball up, and over the plate, in very hittable locations. Then again, it could have been his seeming inability to keep batters off balance by not throwing his change-up often. I’d argue it was choice D, all of the above. Whatever the case, Chris Archer did the Rays no favors Monday night, tossing the Orioles hitters meatball after meatball in his less than stellar 5 IP/12 H/7 R outing. The Rays fell to the Orioles — a team who hit five doubles off Archer — by a score of 7-1