Alex Cobb posted his best start of the season on Tuesday, when the Tampa Bay Rays stifled the Miami Marlins en route to their 14th win of the season. With the win, the Rays finished a 4–4 road trip and got back to .500.
Cobb, in his first scoreless start of the season, threw six superb innings. He fanned two and limited the Marlins to just four hits and two walks. He also hit a batter. Battling through a blister on one of his fingers, Cobb worked his way out of jams in the first, second and fifth innings, holding the Marlins to 0-for-5 wRISP.
The right-hander not only had his split-change working — throwing a total of 23 changeups, with 17 going for strikes — but he also induced weak contact, both in the air and on the ground. In fact, of the 20 balls put in play by Miami’s hitters, only four dropped in between the lines, and of those only two were hit hard.
Meanwhile Logan Morrison, who got his big league start with the Marlins, hit a 1-0 line-drive to right in the third inning to put the Rays on the board.
We saw him in BP and trust us, this was inevitable. pic.twitter.com/cagK4rY9Rx
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 3, 2017
Specifics on the LoMo HR:
Exit velocity : 110 MPH
Launch Angle: 22 degrees
Estimated Travel: 393 feet.#Rays— WDAE (@620wdae) May 3, 2017
Marlin’s announcer: “In Triple-A, they called him 2-0 LoMo.”
LoMo: drills a 1-0 solo-shot to right.
Perhaps 1-0 LoMo is more apropos? #Rays— X-Rays Spex (@XRaysSpex) May 3, 2017
Tampa Bay then took the lead for good in the fifth inning against Edinson Volquez, who was effectively wild after he walked eight and struck out nine over 4-1/3 innings; this before he was pulled one out into the fifth with a blister on his thumb. For this feat, Volquez made MLB history.
With the bases loaded, Tim Beckham hit a line drive sacrifice-fly to center, stretching the lead to two. One batter later, Derek Norris singled in Steven Souza Jr., capping the Rays’ scoring at three.
All wasn’t perfect. Tampa Bay left plenty of meat on the bone, as the Rays were unable to take full advantage of their 11 walks and eight hits — stranding 15 on base, and going 1-for-6 wRISP.
After Cobb, Chase Whitley threw a scoreless seventh before Erasmo Ramirez gave up a run in the eighth on Giancarlo Stanton’s double.
Finally, Alex Colome entered the game in the ninth and earned his second save in as many days. He walked one, but struck out three.
Thanks to Cobb’s quality start, the Rays starting rotation looks like it’s tightening up; the bullpen too. The test will be whether Blake Snell can continue the streak of solid starts on Wednesday.
.@RaysBaseball five starters last time through the rotation, ending with Cobb tonight: 30.1 IP, 7 ER (2.09 ERA), 21 H, 11 BB, 20 K. 💪
— Justin Granit (@JustinGranit) May 3, 2017
The New What Next
The Rays begin a nine-game home stand on Wednesday, starting with the second half of the Citrus Series. Snell (0-2, 3.42 ERA, 5.16 FIP) will toe the rubber, opposite of fellow southpaw Adam Conley (1-1, 6.75 ERA, 4.55 FIP).
Snell continues to struggle with his fastball command, failing to last more than five innings in four consecutive starts. He needed 96 pitches to get 15 outs in his last start. Snell appears to have a problem with consistent windups, forcing his pitches well out of the zone. His 18:18 strike to ball ratio through 26-1/3 innings is a touch worrisome to say the least…not that you haven’t heard that one before, or anything.
Conley allowed nine runs in 1-2/3 innings in his last star, after not allowing more than six previously. The southpaw also had gone six innings in each of his last two starts. The three-pitch hurler, that relies primarily on his 90 mph four-seam fastball, 85 mph slider and 83 mph changeup, is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in one start against the Rays. Key matchups: Evan Longoria (1-3), Steven Souza Jr. (1-2, 2B, BB)
You can read about the pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview, and I’ll post the starting lineup upon availability.
Rays 5/3/17 Starting Lineup
Noteworthiness
— Evan Longoria is back in the lineup today at DH. Longo took his practice reps at third per usual, and should be back in the field soon.
Longo DH’ing tonight but should be back at 3B soon. Taking his usual reps early. pic.twitter.com/EKN9DQBc88
— Rich Hollenberg (@RichOnSports) May 3, 2017
…When asked to give an update on his plantar fasciitis, “I’m in the lineup baby, that’s all that matters,” Longoria said.
— Following the ball game, the Rays optioned RHP Chih-Wei Hu back to Triple-A Durham. The corresponded by recalling southpaw flame thrower José Alvarado from Double-A Montgomery Biscuits. The active roster is now at 25.
— The Rays have now won two in a row without Evan Longoria in the lineup — the first time that’s happened since 2013.