Odorizzi started the night with a 1.09 ERA at home, yet that all changed in the first inning. After making quick work of the leadoff hitter Coco Crisp, Billy Burns worked a 14-pitch at-bat that resulted in a single to left. Burns fouled off 11 total pitches in the sequence, although Odorizzi told Roger Mooney (Tampa Bay Times) that the at-bat was no more frustrating than had it come on the first pitch of the at-bat.
A hit is a hit. I felt I made good pitches and that’s all I can do. The result is the result, but I can control what I can control, and I thought it did that for every pitch in that at-bat, to be honest. I made him foul off some good pitches. He barely touched some good pitches, and he did his job. I just have to tip my hat to him and say, ‘good at-bat.’ Move on to the next one, and I felt I did that. I thought in threw some quality pitches. Some were rewarded, and some were not.
Josh Roddick followed with a single to right before Khris Davis ripped a three-run homer down the left-field line, breaking open an early lead for Oakland. Two batters later, Danny Valencia hit a mammoth solo shot off the C ring for an insurmountable four-run lead. Rays starters have now allowed 10 first inning runs in the past three games ― that’s not good for a team that thrives on lockdown pitching.
Tampa Bay was able to strike back for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Both Desmond Jennings and Evan Longoria worked good at-bats that begat walks, and Steve Pearce singled to right-center, plating a run to make it 4-1. Steven Souza Jr. also contributed with an RBI blooper to right, but that was before Brad Miller tried to lay down bunt with runners at the corners. The bunt stayed in front of the plate, which allowed former Ray Stephen Vogt to turn a 2-6 fielder’s choice for the second out of the frame. Unfortunately Pearce had no choice but to hold at third. Tim Beckham was next and actually reached base (on a walk) for just the second time in 20 plate appearances, loading the bases. But with the bases juiced, Kevin Kiermaier grounded to second to end the threat.
Odorizzi collected two clean frames before he allowed another home run, this time in the fourth and this time to Marcus Semien. The lanky right-hander lasted just four innings on 97 pitches, and it became the third time in five starts where Odorizzi has gone five innings or fewer. As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) pointed out, it’s the 12th time it’s happened for the Rays where in contrast the starter has worked seven innings or more just eight times.
Tampa Bay was able to get back within a pair of runs in the fifth inning after Jennings walked then scored on Longoria’s double into the left-field corner, making it a 5-3 game. However, Dana Eveland ― who actually threw a 1-2-3 inning for just the third time this season ― gave up a leadoff, opposite field homer to Valencia in the sixth (his second of the game) making it a three-run contest.
From there, Steve Geltz and Ryan Webb paired up for three innings of scoreless baseball to keep the Rays within striking distance even though they never would bridge the chasm.
The Rays mounted two game changing opportunities in the late innings. Curt Casali and Jennings drew walks in the seventh, yet reliever Fernando Rodriguez struck out Longoria on three pitches, and got Pearce to pop out to end the frame. Then in the ninth, Kiermaier reached on an infield single to lead off the frame against closer Ryan Madson, who also hit Brandon Guyer with a pitch (12) before pinch-hitter Logan Morrison walked to load the bases with one out. Longoria had an opportunity to come up big in the clutch and responded by slashing an absolute bullet to the left side of the infield. Be that as it may, Valencia made a superb diving catch on the play, robbing Tampa Bay of two runs. Finally Madson got Pearce to pop out to centerfield, ending the game.
All told, Tampa Bay went 2-12 wRISP after starting the game 2-2.
The New What Next
Right-hander Matt Andriese will make his second start this season, opposite of right-hander Kendall Graveman. Andriese will look for another strong outing after allowing just one run on four hits in seven innings Sunday afternoon. Graveman has a 10.54 ERA over his last three starts. He, however, is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two career starts against Tampa Bay, spanning 12 innings. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 5/14/16 Starting Lineup
Guyer DH
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Dickerson LF
Souza RF
Morrison 1B
Pearce 2B
Kiermaier CF
Conger C
Andriese RHP
Noteworthiness
― On Friday night, Jennings reached base three times for the first time this season.
― Eveland has now allowed nine earned runs in eight innings of work. Perhaps it’s time to rethink his presence in the bullpen.
― Just a reminder, the Rays were also pretty crappy at the start of the 2013 season. That squad ironically started the season 15-18 before posting an 18-10 May and a 21-5 July.