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It turns out that the hot, sticky dog days of summer start in the middle of May in Florida. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)

In spite of a pair of Corey Dickerson/Logan Morrison solo homers in the first inning, the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Angels, 3-2.

Here’s your tentative game recap, while I get my eggs in a row for this afternoon’s pre-game notes piece.

All of the Rays offense came on the first 10 pitches of the game.

On the third pitch of the ball-game, Corey Dickerson led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to left field, tying the game at one apiece on his birthday.

Seven pitches later, Logan Morrison crushed a solo shot over the right-field wall to give the Rays a 2-1 lead.

Morrison’s solo home run

Logan Morrison crushes a solo home run over the right-field wall to give the Rays a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 1st

Tampa Bay’s bats went silent from that point on, with the Rays not being able to get a runner into scoring position until two outs into the eight inning.

The New What Next

After a second consecutive 3–2 loss, the Rays will try to bounce back tonight against the Angels, and get back to .500. Alex Cobb (4-3, 3.67 ERA, 3.99 FIP) will get the start opposite of Matt Shoemaker (3-2, 4.47 ERA, 5.01 FIP)

Cobb has delivered quality starts in his last four starts, allowing just eight earned runs over his last 27-1/3 innings. His changeup hasn’t returned to pre-surgery form, which has been well documented, but he’s effectively worked the fastball-curve combo.

Shoemaker notched his third win of the season on Wednesday after allowing four runs (three earned) over 6-1/3 innings against the ChiSox. In 2017, he has relied primarily on an 85 mph splitter with a ton of backspin that results in an above average number of fly balls, a 92 mph four-seam fastball, an 83 mph slider, and a 92 mph sinker. Shoemaker is undefeated in three career starts against the Rays, going 3-0 with a 2.60 ERA. Key matchups: Michael Martinez (1-3), Logan Morrison (4-11, 2B, HR, RBI, BB), Derek Norris (3-5, BB), Colby Rasmus (6-19, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB)

You can read more about the series in our series preview.

Rays 5/23/17 Starting Lineup

Dickerson DH
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Beckham SS
Rasmus LF
Souza Jr RF
Norris C
Robertson 2B
Cobb RHP

Noteworthiness

— Another hitch in the ongoing Matt Duffy (left heel) rehab process, he will not restart his rehab assignment until Saturday or Sunday. Duffy fouled a ball off his left foot during batting practice Saturday, resulting in uncomfortable swelling and the potential for him to favor his right foot. He was able to take ground balls Monday, but as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) noted, plans to test the heel by running out of the box had to be pushed back, which may delay his return to minor-league game action until the weekend.

— In other rehab news, RHP Tommy Hunter (calf strain) is tentatively scheduled to make a rehab appearance tonight with the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs. Pending his return, the Rays will face tough questions over who to option back to Triple-A or release in order to make room for Hunter on the 25-man roster. At the moment, the likeliest candidates appear to be RHPs Ryne Stanek and Jumbo Diaz.

— How good has Dickerson been?

— Evan Longoria is number 57 on Mark Simon’s latest hard hit leaderboard.

— Wonder why Matt Andriese has had a measured level of success this season? He doesn’t allow hard contact.

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