David DeJesus is congratulated after he scored a run in the first inning against the New York Yankees. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
David DeJesus is congratulated after he scored a run in the first inning against the New York Yankees. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Matt Moore gave credence to the saying “He was able to make the big pitch,” Tuesday night. After all, the Rays all-star lefty gave up six walks in five innings, yet he was able to walk away with a three hit shut-out of the Yankees, helping to eliminate any hope they may have had of reaching the postseason.

Moore was constantly in high pressure situations, allowing men to reach scoring position in all five innings — including a bases loaded with one out scenario in the third. However he reached deep, culling enough magic to get Mark Reynolds to fly out to short right and Eduardo Nunez to ground to third to end the inning.

To say Moore was wild is an understatement. Of his 107 total pitches, just 64 went for strikes. What’s more, he threw three wild pitches, pushing his season total to 17 and making him the wildest pitcher in the AL, surpassing Victor Zambrano for the most in a single season in Rays’ history. Yet when he found the zone he was good — the overall results speak to to that.

Much of their success was due to the tandem of Jamey Wright and Jake Odorizzi. The duo were lights out, combining for four innings of 1 H/1 BB/4 K ball. Odorizzi was especially good. As Erik Hahmann of DRaysBay noted, Odorizzi has,

Been phenomenal out of the bullpen. In two appearances he’s thrown 6.2 innings, allowing two hits, two walks and zero runs. He was my MVP of the 18-inning game… He saved the Rays from having to use a hoard of relievers once again. He’s an extremely useful piece to have in your bullpen in a pennant race.

On the other end of things the swarm was in full effect last night, and the Rays were able to take advantage — pounding the Yankees for seven runs on nine hits. Tampa Bay came prepared, knowing full well that Hiroki Kuroda has struggled of late, while also knowing that he’s not really at his best at the start of the game — opponents have posted a .348 BA/.384 OBP/.538 SLG/.921 OPS slash line against the 38 year-old RHP in the first inning.

Matt Joyce got things started early, ambushing Kuroda on a 1-1 pitch, sending it to its rightful home in the right field stands. David DeJesus doubled Wil Myers home and moved to third on the throw home. Evan Longoria plated DeJesus on a sac fly, giving Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead. Kuroda settled down and held the Rays scoreless until the sixth, when they tagged him for two runs on a James Loney double to right-center with the bases loaded. After going 0-for-18 with the bases loaded, Tampa Bay is now 2-for-2. They tacked on two more runs in the ninth on a pair of doubles from Delmon Young and DeJesus.

Not everything went as planned when a pair of Rays (Yunels Escobar and Jose Lobaton) had to be removed from the game early. Escobar left with an ankle injury, while Lobaton injured his right elbow. Neither injury seemed serious, and both are listed as day-to-day.

The New What Next

…And then there were five. With the Rays win, both the Yankees and the Orioles have been deleted from the postseason race. However both Texas and Cleveland won, so we’re still in a stalemate. Nevertheless, Tampa Bay starts the day with a one game lead over Cleveland in the Wildcard race with five to go. David Price will get the start against 27 year-old RHP Phil Hughes tonight. The Rays have put together some good numbers against Hughes, combining for a .311 BA/.376 OBP/.503 SLG/.879 OPS slash line in 161 total at-bats. Key match-ups: David DeJesus (5-8, 3B, HR, 4 RBI), Yunel Escobar (7-20, 2 2B, RBI, 2 BB), Kelly Johnson (4-14, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB), James Loney (5-9), Evan Longoria (7-22, 2B, RBI, 3 BB), Wil Myers (2-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI), Luke Scott (8-19, 3 2B, RBI, 2 BB), Delmon Young (3-11, RBI). You can read about the series here.

Rays 9/25/13 Starting Lineup

Zobrist SS
Myers RF
Loney 1B
Longoria 3B
DeJesus CF
Young DH
Joyce LF
Molina C
Johnson 2B
Price LHP

Noteworthiness

  • Chances to win an AL wild-card, per Cool Standings: Rays 87.9%, Indians 83.5%, Rangers 28.3%.
  • Per a tweet from Marc Topkin, Rays owner Stu Sternberg is surprised to be last in attendance, and said “it will affect future budgeting.” He also expects that a Wildcard game would sell out. The realities are, as Daniel Russell put it, “There’s a need for a new stadium, and the Rays will be dealing with a cash strapped payroll. However, the Rays will sell postseason tickets, the Rays are not moving to (pick a city).” He also asserts that we shouldn’t allow the forthcoming articles and comments on attendance to “build anger and resentment — the attendance struggles exist, embrace it — instead, let’s use those moments to create legitimate points of conversation.” Here here to that.

 

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