The Tampa Bay Rays cruised to an 8-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, collecting their fourth consecutive win in the process. However, sometimes good things come with a cost, and in this case, Andrew Kittredge paid the price, as the right-hander was removed from the game with right elbow soreness after throwing just five pitches.
Tampa Bay took the initial lead one batter into the game against lefty Martín Pérez, who previously blanked the Rays at the Trop. Mike Brosseau, hitting in the leadoff spot for the first time this season, hit an opposite-field home run on 3-2 fastball for an instant one-run advantage.
It was just the third first or second inning run for the Rays this season.
From the sweet to the sour, in the bottom of the inning, Kittredge left the game after throwing a 93 mph 1-1 sinker to Alex Verdugo, which resulted in a line drive out. Kittredge immediately shook his right arm in clear discomfort following the pitch.
After the game, Kittredge said that he “feels good” although he will undergo more tests Wednesday, including an MRI.
It was just that last pitch that I threw. It was something I never felt before, so that was kind of concerning. But as soon as I got out of the game, I started to feel a little better.
— Andrew Kittredge
The discomfort was in the general area of his right elbow, and he also mentioned that he felt some forearm tightness. As of now, the Rays are unsure of the extent of the injury or if right-hander will have to miss any time.
We’ll find more out, but certainly hoping for the best. He’s such a big part of our bullpen and has been. Great win, but bummer with that, frustrated by that, but we’ll just wait and see what doctors and our medical team have to say.
— Kevin Cash
John Curtiss entered in relief and quickly struck out J. D. Martinez on four pitches a moment before Andrew Benintendi — who reached on a leadoff single — was thrown out attempting to swipe second for the inning-ending bang-bang double play. Curtiss subsequently allowed one run on Christian Vazquez’s second-inning double to right, scoring Michael Chavis, yet he allowed nothing else during his 2-2/3 inning outing.
Tampa Bay regained the lead in the third inning after Brosseau hit a one-out double down the left-field line, and scored on Yandy Díaz’s RBI single to right. While Yandy’s bat has gotten hot over the last nine games, it was just his first RBI this season. Yet Pérez reined it in from there and retired the next 10 batters before he departed the game on the heels of a two-out walk to José Martínez in the sixth inning. Pérez allowed just two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four on 94 pitches (57 strikes, 61% strike rate).
The relief corps came up big following Curtiss. Jose Alvarado put together a bounce-back performance with a pair of scoreless innings in which he allowed just a hit and a hit batter while striking out two. Ryan Thompson pitched a scoreless sixth, giving up a walk, while Diego Castillo notched a perfect seventh on 15 pitches (10 strikes, 67% strike rate) including two punchouts.
As with any lead, a one-run lead is wonderful, although a little cushion would go a long way. And Tampa Bay created just that against reliever Austin Brice. Willy Adames started the one-out rally by lining a single to center. Manuel Margot, who now has six hits to his credit since Monday, followed with a two-bagger down the left-field line, scoring Adames. Mike Zunino walked before pinch-hitter Brandon Lowe hit a ground-rule double to right for a three-run advantage.
Díaz was next and, and chopped a single near second. Chavis inexplicably, and unsuccessfully, tried to throw Zunino out at home plating another run.
Brice’s night was done as Robert Stock entered and walked Austin Meadows, loading the bases. After Yoshi Tsutsugo popped out, Stock uncorked a passed ball that scored another run before Hunter Renfroe doubled to left, scoring two and capping the scoring for an 8-1 lead.
Boston scored one last run off Aaron Loup in the eighth inning, and Nick Anderson worked around a two-out triple in the ninth, striking out the side in the process. Using Anderson with a six-run lead was pretty odd, however, seeing him hit 96 mph – 97 mph on his fastball again was definitely a positive.
The New What Next
The Rays will attempt to win the series tonight with Blake Snell (0-0, 3.38 ERA) on the mound. He will pitch opposite of Zack Godley (0-1, 3.97 ERA).
Blake Snell got the start Friday and fired three shutout innings against the Yankees. He allowed no hits and two walks while punching out five on 59 pitches (32 strikes, 54% strike rate). Even though Snell didn’t allow any hits or runs Friday, he struggled with his command. Even so, the southpaw worked around leadoff walks to DJ LeMahieu and Gary Sanchez in the first and third innings (respectively). Snell had hoped to go four-to-five innings, although his struggles in throwing strikes limited his mound time, although he did increase his count if just slightly. Still, he lowered his ERA to 3.38 ERA (4.25 FIP), and his K:BB now stands at 3.5:1 over eight innings across his first three starts of the season.
Me going three innings and then having to cover, I mean that’s a tough task. They’re always ready. … This bullpen is just a great bullpen. Whenever I get out of the game, I’m never worried. These guys are coming in, they’re getting it done, and it’s a great feeling as a starter to know your bullpen is that stacked and they’re going to fight.
— Blake Snell
Zack Godley tossed four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out three against the Blue Jays on Saturday. Godley did his part Saturday, yet the Red Sox mustered just one run on four hits, which clearly wasn’t enough. The 30-year-old right-hander has a 3.97 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 11 strikeouts across 11-1/3 innings this season. Godley relies primarily on an 89 mph cutter that has some natural sink and a hard 83 mph 12-6 curveball, while also mixing in an 83 mph changeup that dives down out of the zone. He is 0-0 with a 6.74 ERA in two outings (4 IP) against the Rays, and 0-0 with a 0.68 ERA in three games (13-1/3 IP) at Fenway. Key Matchups: Manuel Margot (6-25, 3B), Hunter Renfroe (5-20, 2 2B), Mike Zunino (2-7, HR)
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 8/12/20 Starting Lineup
- Meadows DH
- Lowe RF
- Diaz 3B
- Choi 1B
- Wendle 2B
- Tsutsugo LF
- Adames SS
- Kiermaier CF
- Pérez C
Noteworthiness
— FWIW: Tampa Bay has two pitchers on the taxi squad, left-hander Anthony Banda and righty Aaron Slegers. Yonny Chirinos (right triceps inflammation) played catch on Tuesday and Manager Kevin Cash said he felt great. The right-hander is set to throw a bullpen and if all goes well, he will be eligible to be activated on Friday.
— In other injury news, two-way prospect, Brendan McKay, has been shut down for the time being, and there is no word on how long he will be on the shelf because of this injury.
McKay had been working back from a positive COVID-19 test in Port Charlotte before the team made the decision. He had dealt with shoulder injuries in 2019, which Kevin Cash pointed out.
Brendan has noted that he has had some issues, even dating back to last year. After his San Diego start (on Aug. 13) he said he didn’t feel right. I’m not totally sure that he has completely gotten past that of having no issue out there.
— Kevin Cash