Six in a row! (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Sergio Romo made the first (technical) start of his career after 588 relief outings, and Daniel Robertson hit a second inning grand slam, as the Tampa Bay Rays won their sixth straight game, 5–3 over the Angels. For the first time since March 30, the Rays are back at .500 (22-22).

Romo got the start and became the first Rays starter that was 30 years-old (or older) to do so in 603 games. The 35 year-old right-hander struck out Zack Cosart, Mike Trout and Justin Upton on 18 pitches (all swinging) in the top of the first.

Tampa Bay unveiled the plan as a way to get Ryan Yarbrough deeper in the game without the risk of facing the righthanders at the top of the order a third time. It worked out so well that Kevin Cash announced Romo would make a second consecutive start Sunday afternoon, ahead of Anthony Banda.

The way it worked out, Sergio is pumped, Cash said. He treated himself like a starter. I don’t think he’s here anymore, so he left to get his rest and get ready to throw one or two innings.

After threatening in the first inning, Tampa Bay took advantage of an extra out in the second to take an early four-run lead Andrew Heaney and the Angels. With two outs and none on, Johnny Field worked a free pass before Mallex Smith — who applied pressure on the Angels’ infield by way of his speed — reached on a throwing error by first baseman Jefry Marte, on a chopper wide of the bag. Jesus Sucre followed with (just) his second walk of the season, bringing Robertson to the plate. In front of 200 friends and family members, Robertson took an 84 mph 0-1 changeup to left-center, giving the Rays a commanding lead the Angels would never overcome.

Ryan Yarbrough took the mound after Romo, in the second, and allowed just three hits and a walk over the next six frames, collecting four punch outs. During that stretch he allowed just two batters to reach over the minimum, while only one runner got into scoring position in the fourth inning. Yarbrough ended that frame by coaxing a fly-ball out to center from Andrelton Simmons.

The Rays tacked on an insurance run in the seventh against reliever Noe Ramirez, and it all started with Robertson — no surprise there. The infielder worked a one-out walk before Ramirez, eventually, walked the bases full with an IBB of Matt Duffy. The right-hander got Wilson Ramos to ground into what looked to be an inning-ending double play, yet the twin killing was overturned on replay, as Robertson crossed the plate for the fifth run.

The Angels successfully broke up the shutout in the eighth, after Ian Kinsler doubled off Yarbrough, swiped third, then scored on a Marte groundout. Pinch-hitter Chris Young reached on a Robertson error, chasing Yarbrough.

Chaz Roe then got Martin Maldonado to ground into an around the horn double play. Yarbrough was charged with one run over 6-1/3 innings. He threw 92 pitches (60 strikes, 65% strike rate). As it was written elsewhere, the quality outing was beyond what anyone could have anticipated from him.

The Angels rallied in the ninth against Ryne Stanek, forcing an appearance by closer Alex Colome. Zach Cozart singled before Mike Trout crushed a 99 mph fastball to left-field off Stanek to start the frame. The right-hander has now given up three runs on three hits (including two homers) over 3-2/3 innings. Moreover, the contact he has allowed has either been medium or hard. Perhaps it’s time to build Stanek’s confidence in games where the Rays have commanding lead.

Colome entered the now a two-run affair, and retired the next three batters on 11 pitches for his 10th save of the season.

The New What Next

The Rays will go for their second consecutive series sweep Sunday afternoon with Sergio Romo on the mound. He will be followed by Anthony Banda (0-0, 5.40 ERA). They will be opposed by two-way start Shohei Ohtani (3-1, 3.58 ERA).

Sergio Romo will be the first pitcher to start games on back-to-back days since Zack Greinke did so for the Milwaukee Brewers (July 7-8, 2012). Greinke was ejected after throwing four pitches and facing two batters.

Anthony Banda efficiently cruised through the Royals lineup, setting a quick pace and inducing lots of contact — prior to the fifth inning he had struck out only one batter. But it appeared that the wheels might fall off for the southpaw in that frame. As Banda pounded the zone, the Royals began to hit squibbers that found holes.

A pair of leadoff singles and a sacrifice bunt later, Kansas City had runners on second and third with just one out. Banda came back and coaxed a soft grounder to short out of Ryan Goins that was scored as an RBI fielder’s choice. The next batter, Whit Merrifield, sent a liner to left that dropped just in front of Span, who struggled with the ball. Merrifield tried to stretch his single into a double, and Span gunned him down at second. The Rays got out of the inning with the lead, yet the Royals cut the deficit to one. Kansas City later tied the game against the tandem of Jose Alvarado and Sergio Romo.

That’s not to say Banda performed poorly, because he didn’t. The left-hander went five innings, and didn’t walk a batter. He struck out one and threw just 52 pitches (38 strikes, 73% strike ratio), although he allowed three runs on six hits.

Shohei Ohtani, thrust into a six-man rotation, will get the start in the series finale. Ohtani is coming off a quality start against Minnesota — his fourth of the season — in which he allowed just three hits and collected 11 strikeouts. It’s also thought that he may see some at-bats leading up to his start. The two-way star has relied on a blazing 98 mph four-seam fastball, a firm and whiffy 88 mph splitter with slight cut action and has some natural sink, and a sweeping 83 mph slider with two-plane movement, while also mixing in a whiffy 75 mph curveball with exceptional bite and glove side movement.

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Halos — a series preview

Rays 5/20/18 Starting Lineup

Span LF
Cron DH
Wendle 2B
Ramos C
Miller 1B
Duffy 3B
Smith CF
Robertson SS
Field RF
Romo RHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays have not only surpassed the Blue Jays with sole possession of third place in the AL East, but have also leap-frogged Toronto in the Baseball Prospectus playoff berth projections, at a 19.5% chance of reaching the postseason.

(Screen Grab Credit: Baseball Prospectus)

— 1B/DH C.J. Cron extended his streak of games in which he reached base safely to 25.

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