Source: FanGraphs
Both teams made tone setting defensive gems to prevent runs from scoring early. In the top of the first, Carlos Correa robbed Logan Forsythe of an RBI hit with a beautiful diving grab off a two out laser shot, but Forsythe returned the favor in the bottom of the frame against Jed Lowrie.
The Rays made another crucial play in the second inning after Jake Odorizzi allowed a leadoff walk to Carlos Gomez. Behind in the count with Colby Rasmus at the plate, Gomez attempted to swipe second. Odorizzi fanned Rasmus on a middle-middle 92 mph heater, and Casali threw an absolute bullet to Cabrera who put the tag on the would be thief. It was a huge play in an already tight game.
Houston broke out first in the third against Odorizzi, after allowing opportunities to go by the wayside in the first and second. Jason Castro slapped a one out single to right, and the speedy Jose Altuve followed with a bunt single that was initially ruled an out, but was overturned upon review. Marwin Gonzalez plated the Astros’ run on a blooped double to left, giving Houston a one run advantage. Odorizzi limited damage though, fanning both Correa and Jed Lowrie (both swinging) to end the threat. That started a string of at-bats where Odorizzi struck out seven (five whiffs) of the next nine batters. Odorizzi posted a strong 6 IP/6 H/1 ER/1 BB/9 K outing on 107 pitches.
Much like Houston, Tampa Bay found it easy to reach base against Scott Feldman, yet they couldn’t get past second… Until the fifth inning. Casali ran into an 0-2 fastball that he gladly deposited into the left-field seats, tying the game at one.
9 HR since his recall (6-13) lead #Rays, rank 2nd among AL catchers. WATCH @CurtCasali tie it: http://t.co/WygzSqX3e0 pic.twitter.com/1tcbQM2biT
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 19, 2015
The Rays took 2-1 lead in the seventh against Scott Feldman, who entered the game with a 2.44 ERA against Tampa Bay — his best mark against any club. Kevin Kiermaier blooped a single to center, then went to third after Curt Casali hit a bloop double to left-center. On that play, SS Correa and CF Gomez ran into one another, allowing the hit to fall in. John Jaso went down swinging on a nasty breaking pitch for the first out, but Grady Sizemore walked to load the bases for Evan Longoria.
Longo grounded to the hole at short for what looked to be a routine inning ending double play. However, Correa made the second defensive gaffe of the inning when he threw high to Altuve at second. Altuve had to leap for the ball, and the only play he could make was at second — preventing a 6-4-3 double play, and allowing Kiermaier to score for a one run advantage.
Steve Geltz threw a 1-2-3 seventh, setting the stage for Houston’s late comeback.
A win looked all but certain in the eighth inning when McGee took the mound. Yet all that glitters isn’t gold, and McGee game gave up three consecutive hard hits (Jose Altuve and Marwin Gonzalez singles, Carlos Correa RBI double) before fanning Jed Lowrie for the first out of the frame. After Carlos Gomez was intentionally walked to load the bases, thus setting up a double play opportunity, the lefty coaxed a 3-2-3 double play from Colby Rasmus, keeping the game tied at two apiece.
Kevin Cash sent McGee to the hill again in the ninth. Prior to Tuesday, the longest outing for the lefty was 1-1/3 innings. If McGee’s control looked shaky in the eighth, it looked outright abysmal in the ninth. He missed with two low and inside fastballs to start the at-bat with Evan Gattis, before getting the powerful righty to pound the ball into the dirt to Asdrubal Cabrera at short. McGee fell behind pinch hitter Chris Carter before striking him out looking at a fastball on the outside corner. But he walked Jason Castro on five pitches — signalling the end of his night, and bringing the productive Altuve to the plate.
Cash called on the services of RHP reliever Brad Boxberger to get the last out of the ninth. Boxy got ahead of Altuve, then coaxed a deep fly-ball out to the wall in right-field. Brad dodged a bullet in the ninth, pushing the game into extra innings, but the same can’t be said about his performance in the bottom of the 10th.
After the team went down in order in the top of the inning (two fly-ball outs and a grounder), Boxberger took the mound again to face the top of the order. The Rays hurler fell behind Gonzalez 3-2, then left a four-seam fastball over the plate.
Gonzalez responded by lining a ball into the right-field seats, for the game winning walk-off homer.
The New What Next
Game three of the four-game series is on Wednesday, when Nathan Karns (7-5, 3.53 ERA) starts opposite lefty All-Star Dallas Keuchel (14-6, 2.36 ERA). Karns has made 17 starts in which he’s allowed two runs or fewer, which is tied with the A’s Sonny Gray for the American League lead. Per MLB.com, he needs just one more start of two runs or fewer to tie Rolando Arrojo’s franchise rookie record set in 1998. Keuchel is unbeaten at home (11-0) this year, but also has not yet won in four starts against the Rays. He’s 11-0 with a 1.26 ERA at home, with 98 strikeouts in 92-2/3 innings. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 8/19/15 Starting Lineup
Guyer CF
Jennings LF
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera DH
Beckham SS
Loney 1B
Nava RF
Casali C
Karns RHP
Noteworthiness
— Brad Boxberger has allowed 10 of his past 22 batters to reach over his previous five appearances, on five hits and five walks. Boxberger now has nine losses — the most for any non-starter in the majors.
— Last night’s walkoff loss was the sixth for Boxberger; the team record for one season and most in the majors since Brad Lidge lost six with the Phillies in 2009. The team’s nine walkoff losses match the Mariners and Reds for the most in majors; two shy of 2002 team record.