A marquee pitching match-up was promised at the Trop Sunday, when Chris Archer took on Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners, and a marquee pitching duel between the two righties is what we got. In the case of the Rays’ starter, Archer was more than happy to have the M’s put the ball in play, responding with eight groundouts and five fly-ball outs. Hernandez, on the other hand, was dominant and efficient, ringing up 15 Rays over the span of his seven inning/100 pitch outing.
And when both the Rays and Mariners were forced to depend on their respective bullpens, there was no indication that the game would end in the manner it had. Yet, one need only to look at the ninth inning play log to see that the same thing that’s plagued the Rays all too often, crept up and bit Tampa Bay once more — Grant Balfour gave up the ghost late in the game. The Rays dropped their second consecutive game to the Mariners, this time by a score of 5-0. Their AL leading eighth shutout of the season, I’m still stunned.
With the game knotted at zero, there was no certainty that the Rays would have eked out a victory in their half of the inning. Maybe someone would have hit a walk off and ended the game right then and there. Or perhaps it could have become an extra inning affair, going into the 10th still tied at zero. However, one thing is certain: had Balfour executed an 0-2 pitch with runners on the corners and two outs, the Rays would have had a better chance of a victory with Evan Longoria, James Loney, and Ben Zobrist expected in the box in the bottom of the inning. Instead, Balfour walked two batters and gave up a pair of costly 0-2 triples which ultimately cost the Rays a five run deficit — an all encompassing chasm to bridge against Seattle’s excellent, high-leverage relievers.
Instead of glorious walk off by Longo, Loney or Zo, the Rays went down in order with a whimper — on a game ending, check-swing strikeout.
Would I, being in Maddon’s shoes, relieve Balfour of his duties as closer? I don’t really know how to answer that. I will say, when comparing apples to apples, Balfour has given up nine runs spread over a ten-outing span (extending back to May 15th), while Jake McGee — who could be considered the de facto closer if Balfour was annexed — has given up only five runs all season. To that end, Balfour is now responsible for blowing four games (saves or otherwise) this season. I will say, if the raison d’État for Joe Maddon in this month, is to come out on the other side of June with 15-wins under their proverbial belt, the Rays really haven’t started off the month with a bang — that is, unless you consider a 1-7 record in June a bang. The Rays start the day with a 24-40 record — a season high 16 games under .500. …And so it goes.
The New What Next
David Price (4-5, 4.03 ERA) will get the start in the series finale against Erasmo Ramirez (1-4, 6.82 ERA). Ramierez has been roughed up in 2014, giving up 25 runs in 33 innings (or just under a run per inning) and is wont to give up the long ball — averaging 2.45 HR/9. Ramirez is a low 90’s fastball/upper 70’s change up throwing pitcher, who last faced the Rays in 2013 when he went 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA. This should be an interesting outing. Despite a combined .316 BA/.350 OBP/.500 SLG/.850 OPS line, only three Rays have posted good individual numbers against Ramirez. It all boils down to this: at an average of just over four innings per start, Tampa Bay will need to hit Ramirez hard, and early, lest they have to face the Mariners’ relievers. Key match ups: Yunel Escobar (3-5, 2B, RBI, BB), James Loney (3-6, RBI), Ben Zobrist (4-7, 2 HR, 3 RBI).
Rays 6/9/14 Starting Lineup
Jennings CF
Kiermaier RF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Zobrist 2B
DeJesus DH
Joyce LF
Escobar SS
Molina C
Price LHP
Noteworthiness
- You can read my real time thoughts about yesterday’s game, right as they happened no less, at our Tumblr page. Head there, and get frustrated all over again.
- Your tweet of the day comes courtesy of Marc Topkin:
#Rays Maddon says Balfour remains his closer for today. But also said even if there was a change he wouldn’t tell us
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) June 8, 2014