By: Michael Nazzaro
This game was about Chris Archer. No one else, well maybe Desmond Jennings, but we’ll get to that. Archer, after getting touched for five runs in four innings against the Indians, came out swinging. After hitting Nate McClouth to start the game, Archer settled down and induced two ground balls, from the next two batters, the second being an inning ending double play. He cruised through the first two and two/thirds innings before hitting a rough patch, the only one he would hit all night, walking Chris Dickerson, then walking Nate McClouth followed by a line drive to center field by Manny Machado, scoring Dickerson for Batlimore’s only run. After that, he coasted through the next four innings, allowing only one more hit on a misplay by Jennings in center.
That’s not to discredit Jason Hammel for a fairly decent outing. Though he lacked some command on the breaking stuff tonight, he kept the Rays offense in check for the most part. Hammel came into the game with a 5.43 ERA, though he had a 7-3 record. On the road however, Hammel was undefeated, going 6-0 with a 4.17 ERA. Unusual, but also signified that the O’s could score behind him. Hammel held the Rays to no runs and three hits through six innings. It was the seventh that would be his unraveling. After going 0-2 on Loney, Hammel hung one in there and Loney lined it to center for single. The very next pitch, Desmond Jennings would see right down the middle and he took advantage of it, hitting his sixth homerun of the season, his first since May 21st, giving the Rays the lead. Hammel would get Scott to ground out and Molina to strike out before surrendering a single to Escobar. This would be the end of his night. Troy Patton came on next and got Zobrist to fly out to center to end the inning.
The Bulldog would come in to the bottom of the O’s line up and did not disappoint, getting Dickerson to pop out and Flaherty to strike out. The next batter, McClouth, He pitched well against, and seemed to have gotten him to strike out looking on a 3-2 pitch, but the home plate umpire, Lance Barrett, disagreed and gave McClouth the pass. Peralta would come back to Machado to pop up to third on the next at bat, ending the top of the 8th.
The Rays put up an uneventful bottom of the 8th, going down in order, but this led to “Rodney Time” as Fox Sports Florida called it. I’ve been nervous every time Rodney has come on this season, especially against the middle of the line up, but I needn’t fret tonight. Rodney came in and pitched. Two pitches to Markakis and he grounds out to third on a nice stop by Longo, for pitches to Jones and a strike out, three pitches to the ever dangerous Chris Davis and a strike out.
The Good
- Archer made an amazing bounce back tonight. Throwing 84 pitches over seven innings, Archer allowed only two hits and two walks (both in the third inning), while relenting only one run. Even late, he was throwing well, hitting 97 MPH on the gun in the seventh. He threw 94 pitches through 4 innings his last time out, en route to a loss. If this is the Archer we’re going to see, I like it.
- Loney looked great again at the plate. I swear, this dude continues to be one of the most pleasant surprises this season. I remember when the Rays signed him, I was completely indifferent. He went 2-4 tonight with a single and double. His season average is .332.
- 2013 Rodney looked like 2012 Rodney. He threw 9 pitches, 8 for strikes, 4 swings and misses, and 2 looking. He baffled the three batters he faced, when they expected fast, they got slow and vice versa. He had excellent command. Hopefully this is the road to correcting his season (Editors note: Rodney’s strung together 7-1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, relenting two walks and a hit in that span).
- It’s also worth mentioning that over the past ten games, the Rays bullpen has a 1.88 ERA. If that isn’t a good sign, I don’t know what is.
The Bad
- The Rays offense scored twice. This is the third time in four game the Rays have scored two runs or less. And this is against a guy who just doesn’t have that good stuff. Whatever is going on needs to be corrected and quick, because our pitching can’t always hold up these close games.
- Longoria looked, well, bad at the plate. Either he was swinging for the fences on pitches and missing or was treading lightly and grounding out. If there’s someone we need to hit, it’s him and his power bat.
Line for Archer: 7.0 IP 2H 1R 1ER 2BB 2SO 84 Pitches
Line for Hammel: 6.2 IP 6 H 2 R 2ER 2 BB 3 SO 1 HR 105 Pitches
The New What Next
Jeremy Hellickson will attempt to string together his second consecutive victory Saturday, when he takes the hill opposite of the highly touted Kevin Gausman. You can read about the pitching match-up here.
Rays 6/8/13 Starting Lineup
Joyce RF
Zobrist 2B
Johnson LF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings CF
Scott DH
Lobaton C
Escobar SS
Hellickson RHP