First, Evan Longoria and James Loney went back-to-back with homers in the first inning — the first set of back-to-back homers since June 19 vs the Astros:
Then this happened, and it was was pretty cool:
But in the sixth — with Helly being Helly — this happened:
Though Kevin Kiermaier responded with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the sixth inning, extending the lead to two runs:
While the Rays tied the game at five, Joel Peralta allowed this to happen in the 11th inning giving the Orioles the go-ahead runs:
In other words, the game was par for the course for Joel Peralta and the Tampa bay Rays. And in light of the handling of the Rays by the Orioles, urm…Nelson Cruz, something popped in my head:
If you’re looking at the end of this season as a testing ground for the 2015 season — like I am — a picture of who is expendable emerges. I wouldn’t be surprised if a trade involving Matt Joyce and SeanRod comes to pass. Also expendable are Cesar Ramos, Jose Molina (no brainer), and Joel Peralta — which is sad since he’s played an integral role in the bullpen and the clubhouse for the last few years. When Matt Moore comes back, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Hellickson moved into the long reliever role.
Thoughts? Leave them below.
Noteworthiness
- Ian Malinowski put together a more expansive game recap. You can check it out at DRaysBay.
- Per Marc Topkin,
Maddon said he expects to talk to executive VP Andrew Friedman on tonight’s flight to New York about whether they will shut down LHP Drew Smyly for the season after a career-most 153 innings or give him one more start. They will decide by Tuesday, when Smyly would throw his bullpen session.