I call this “good seats in left-field.” (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)

Jake Odorizzi posted seven strong innings, as the Tampa Bay Rays bounced back from their disappointing loss on Friday with a 6–1 win over the Blue Jays Saturday afternoon. The Rays not only look to get back over .500 in the rubber match against Toronto this afternoon, but also to win the series.

The Rays threatened in the first two innings of the game, and finally broke through in the third after Logan Morrison took a hanging changeup, from Marco Estrada, to right-center for a two-run blast.

Morrison’s two-run homer

Logan Morrison launches a two-run home run to right-center field to put the Rays on the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning

Even though Morrison gave the good guys all the offense they’d need on the day, they did a good job of tacking on insurance runs as the game progressed.

Up by one in the sixth, the Rays began to pull away from Toronto. Evan Longoria, who previously flew out at the base of the wall in center, lined a double to left-center — his fifth hit in two days. Logan Morrison followed with a double to right-center, scoring Longoria from second.

Longo has been battling plantar fasciitis, although he looked good — or in the words of Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) “spry” — Saturday on the base paths.

After Steven Souza Jr. grounded out to first, Colby Rasmus blasted a two-run homer to deep right for his first hit as a Ray.

The Rays capped the scoring in the eighth against Jason Grilli, who John Gibbons moved into a lower leverage role just two days prior. Longoria led off the frame by working a six pitch walk, then moved up to second on a free pass of LoMo. A passed ball and a fielder’s choice later, the Rays third baseman beat a throw to the plate for a five run advantage.

Toronto initially took a 1–0 lead in the first inning against Odorizzi after Ezequiel Carrera hit a full count liner to right-center, that was said to hit off the top of the wall. The ball caromed away from Kevin Kiermaier and Souza for what was then assumed to be an inside-the-park homer. However, replay showed that the ball left the ballpark then bounced back onto the field, i.e. Carrera would have gone yard either way.

Yet one lowly run was all Jake would give up on the day. In fact, Toronto couldn’t get a runner into scoring position until the seventh inning, and even then Odorizzi stranded him (Kendrys Morales) at second after collecting back-to-back strikeouts of Justin Smoak (looking) and Devon Travis (swinging).

Odorizzi worked to just three over the minimum and allowed one run on three hits, while striking out six and not walking a single batter. He now has scattered eight hits and issued no walks over his last 19 innings of work.

Erasmo Ramirez, just activated from the paternity list, threw a scoreless eighth, and Jose Alvarado finished the Blue Jays with a perfect ninth — notching three ground outs along the way.

The New What Next

The Rays and Jays wrap up the three-game series on Sunday. Alex Cobb Alex Cobb (2-2, 3.86 ERA, 4.36 FIP) will get the start opposite reliever Joe Biagini (0–1, 3.38 ERA, 2.71 FIP), who makes his first start of the season after Toronto designated Mat Latos for assignment.

Cobb notched his best outing of the season Tuesday, blanking the Marlins over six innings, and scattering just four hits. He is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in six career starts against the Blue Jays.

Rays 5/7/17 Starting Lineup

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

Noteworthiness

— Rasmus has developed a bad reputation over his career, however, he seemed nothing but amiable to those of us in left-field. He — more often than not — chatted with fans between plays, tipped his cap when they chanted his name, and flashed smiles often. That kind of friendly playfulness goes a long way. I have no gripes.

Leave a comment