Let’s be honest here, no one thought the Tampa Bay Rays would return home with a perfect, 5-0 road trip record. 3-2 or 4-1, sure. 5-0? Not in the least. Low and behold however, the Rays shutout the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 last night, closing out their most successful road trip to date. Winners of seven straight, the Rays ended the night 7.0 out of first in the AL East, 4.5 out in the Wildcard race, and 1.5 ahead of the Red Sox who will enter The Trop Friday, for a three game set.
Alex Cobb was back to his dominant form, tossing seven excellent innings of 10 strikeout ball. He was followed by the tandem of Brad Boxberger and Jake McGee — or “Jake in the Box,” as Joe Maddon likes to refer to them — who combined for a pair of 1-2-3 innings to close out the game — ringing up five in the process.
Below are a few game peripherals and highlights from last night’s game.
- Contrary to his previous outings, all Alex Cobb did was throw strikes.In the first three innings alone, seven of the nine outs were retired via the punch-out (six swinging). Overall, Cobb struck out 10 (eight swinging), and induced 10 ground ball outs. Cobb’s stuff was very good, and considering how he’s been up and down most of this year, it’s an encouraging outing.
- Not only did his part on the mound, Cobb put the Rays ahead in the second inning with an RBI double to right field — his first big league hit. It was the first extra-base hit by a Rays pitcher in more than five years. (Andy Sonnanstine, 5/17/09)
- A scary moment came in the fourth inning when Lance Lynn hit Cobb with a pitch on his right elbow. Cobb went down, and had to be tended to by the Rays’ training staff. Cesar Ramos started to warm up in the bullpen as the RHP took first base. But the swelling and pain weren’t enough to take Cobb out go the game though, and he went on to do what he did over the course of three more innings.
- Cobb, Boxberger and McGee combined for 15 strikeouts and no walks. During this winning streak the pitching staff had a 1.14 ERA. Furthermore, 28 of the 54 total outs, split between two games, came as strikeouts by the Rays pitching staff.
- In the two-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, the pitching staff crafted a 1.50 ERA.
- The team swept the road trip 5-0, tying a club record with eight straight road wins.
The Rays return home ahead of the extended home stand which starts Friday. While they have an off-day Thursday, the Red Sox will take on the Blue Jays in Toronto. Here’s to hope the Jays can hammer Rubby De La Rosa, and work into Boston’s ‘pen.
Noteworthiness
- Joe Maddon set the rotation ahead of the weekend series. David Price will get the start opposite of Jon Lester Friday, while Jeremy Hellickson will return to rotation Saturday, and Chris Archer will pitch Sunday.
- My personal favorite sound bit from last night’s game: “Jośe Molina turned that triple into a double.” Dave and Andy on Molina’s fourth inning, one out double.
- Best! Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo places crackers at the plate for Jose Molina, a treat from his younger brother Yadier.