The Tampa Bay Rays took the first game of a day/night double header in Boston by a score of 2-1, a white knuckle win if there ever was one. Brandon Gomes (not Cesar Ramos) was credited with the win after Ramos was pulled two-outs into the fifth inning. Closer Grant Balfour came back to tally his fifth save in six attempts, on the heels of a blown save in his previous outing against the White Sox. Game highlights follow.
- Cesar Ramos put up another positive start, slashing 4.2 IP/1H/1 R/6 BB/6 K in his 95 pitch (career high, 53 strikes) outing. True, the six walks are worrisome. However, Ramos was able to make that big pitch, and ultimately put down Boston’s uprisings largely unscathed — the exception being a one run first inning. To put things in perspective, Ramos got better as the game went along, following a 35 pitch, three walk first inning (ouch), with four consecutive efficient innings. At six K’s on the day, his strikeout total is nothing to scoff at. Ramos should be fully stretched out by now, and if he can cut down his walk total — even by half — and attack hitters as he had from innings two-through-four, we should see a pitcher who can pitch into the sixth or seventh inning his next go around — an exciting prospect, all things considered.
- Matt Joyce, Yunel Escobar, and Jose Molina teamed up to gun down Pedroia at the plate in the seventh inning — a contentious 7-6-2 play to say the least. You can see the play below. The Red Sox called for a review, but it was clearly obvious that Pedroia was out at the plate. A very pouty Brian Butterfield (Boston’s 3B coach) was ejected after slamming his helmet down following the umpires ruling. Dear Red Sox, you may have gotten your way with the double header, but you shouldn’t expect to get your way with everything. Look at the bright side — a 1/3 full Fenway got their much ballyhooed Pedroia bobble heads, and everyone got to sing Sweet Caroline. Win/win.
- For the first time in his career, Matt Joyce has recorded an OF assist in his last three games. His three assists tie for most among a major league left-fielder, along with Alex Gordon, David Lough and Eric Young.
- Mr. Offense, David DeJesus, accounted for both the Rays runs, thanks to a third inning, low liner solo shot to right, and a fourth inning, bases loaded, RBI walk.
- The bullpen looked much better this afternoon. Closer Grant Balfour looked like a pitcher on a mission, primarily attacking Boston’s hitters with his 92 MPH fastball, then dropping in his off-speed stuff to keep them off balance. That three-pitch, game ending, sequence to David Ortiz was a thing of beauty. Balfour started the at-bat with a perfectly placed curve ball on the outside corner for strike one. He came back with an inside fastball at the bottom of the zone, and all Ortiz could do was foul the pitch off. Finally, Balfour threw a filthy slider to the outside corner, which Ortiz hit it off the end of his bat to end the game.
Rays 5/1/14 Starting Lineup (game two)
Forsythe 2B
ennings CF
Longoria 3B
Myers RF
Rodriguez LF
Loney 1B
Guyer DH
Escobar SS
Hanigan C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
- The Rays have recalled Brad Boxberger for game numero dos. No corresponding move needs to be made because of the double header.