Update: James Loney has been added to the 15-day disabled list after suffering a mild right oblique strain; 1B Allan Dykstra has been recalled from Triple-A Durham to fill the hole left in Loney’s wake. To make room for Dykstra on the 40-man roster, Tampa Bay recalled Burch Smith and placed him on the 60-day DL (Tommy John surgery).
Loney was scratched from the lineup prior to last night’s game, telling the media he “tweaked his right side” and was removed for “precautionary reasons.” Manager Kevin Cash told the media Loney’s right side showed “a hot spot,” however, they feel confident they caught it in time. Think back to March when Brandon Guyer had a similar issue during Spring Training and was back in less than two weeks. More severe strains can lead to a longer stay on the DL. This is Loney’s first stint on the DL as a big leaguer.
Dykstra, who spent the last four years in the Mets organization (after starting his career with the Padres), will make his Major League debut with the Rays tonight — hitting eighth and playing first base. Dykstra worked out with the Bulls this morning in Durham, but instead of getting on the bus to Gwinnett, he was given a plane ticket to the Bay Area to make his debut.
As for John Jaso, he remains sidelined due to a left wrist contusion. There is the potential for Jaso to take on a pinch-running role, although it is likely that he will go on the DL this weekend when the Rays play under NL rules in Miami.
The Tampa Bay Rays looked to bounce back Tuesday, after the less than auspicious start to the 2015 season. And while they appeared to battle both the Baltimore Orioles and a severe case of deja vu, after allowing six early runs to cross the plate, the team — led by Nathan Karns — refused to hang-up their hats and accept another disappointing loss. Ultimately falling short, Tampa Bay certainly made things interesting by coming within a run of the powerful Orioles.
Nathan Karns got the start in the second game of the opening series, and looked shaky from the get go after allowing six earned runs in his first two innings of work. He, however, was able to settle down in the ensuing 3-2/3 to keep the Rays in the game.
In the first inning, Karns quickly gave up back-to-back-to back singles Alejandro De Aza, Steve Pearce and Travis Snider, all before Adam Jones plated a pair of runs on a double to left. After Chris Davis grounded to third for the first out of the game, Jones advanced on a wild pitch ahead of Manny Machado’s RBI sac-fly to center. When all was said and done, the Rays entered the bottom of the inning down by four.
Back at it in the top of the second, Karns fell behind Caleb Joseph 3-1 before allowing a leadoff walk. He was able to collect himself and fan Everth Cabrera after a lengthy eight pitch battle, and coax a De Aza pop out to left yet the specter of Pearce loomed on deck. Karns was able to get ahead of the O’s slugger by an 0-2 count after throwing a couple of good breaking pitches, but Pearce turned on breaking number three — a hanger that Pearce promptly deposited into section 145.
Pearce is an elite slugger who is adept at staying back on breaking pitches before crushing them. Yet the question remains, if he was committed to his off-speed stuff, why didn’t Karns bait Pearce into chasing a curve ball away from the plate? In spite of that, a string of seven consecutive innings without an Orioles run came after, and it all began with Karns who was able to settle down and put together a gutsy outing.
Karns fanned Chris Davis on three pitches to start the third, before forcing a pair of ground-outs of Machado and Ryan Flaherty. The righty put the Orioles down in order once more in the fourth, this time racking up a pair of strikeouts in the process. Even when he allowed base runners in both the fifth and sixth innings, Karns was able to get a couple of key double plays to smother the threats before anything could develop.
Karns threw 49 pitches in the first two innings alone, yet followed by averaging an efficient 12-1/2 pitches per inning for the remainder of his start. The difference maker — Karns only fell behind three times after the second inning, and only one of those at-bats resulted in a deep count. What he lacked in command in the front two frames, Karns made up for in the ensuing 3-2/3.
As for the offense, Tampa Bay was stymied from the start after James Loney was scratched from the lineup due to tightness in his side, sustained during batting practice. The losses of Loney and John Jaso left the Rays with only two bench players (David DeJesus and Bobby Wilson) to depend upon to pinch hit later in the game.
Down by six, Kevin Kiermaier led off the third inning with a triple. If not for a ground out by Steven Souza though, he may never have crossed the plate. Evan Longoria led off the fourth with a single to left, and Logan Forsythe worked a beautiful at-bat, two batters, later before mashing a two-run homer to left. After falling behind Chen by an 0-2 count, Forsythe worked the count full (in the 11 pitch at-bat) before going yard. Down by three, the Rays were met with an excellent scoring opportunity in the fifth, yet they failed to pounce.
After Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch and Souza walked, the duo paired for a well executed double steal to put a pair of runners in scoring position with Asdrubal Cabrera at the plate. In the end, however, Cabrera struck out (swinging) on an ugly outside, eye-level, pitch. Thankfully Longoria was able to keep the inning going with a seven pitch, base loading, walk for Desmond Jennings…who flew out to short one pitch later.
The ever productive Outlaw crushed a two-run homer to dead center in the seventh — bringing Tampa Bay within one — nevertheless they failed to get on base in the eighth and ninth innings, and at 6-5 the score sat.
Kevin Cash depended upon the bullpen from the sixth inning on, and to their credit the relievers did a good job of shutting down the Orioles subsequent threats. Still, a question of Cash’s bullpen management remained in the wake. Erik Hahmann (DRaysBay) touched on that, saying,
With two on and no out in the top of the seventh inning, and the Rays now down by just one run, Cash brought in Steve Geltz. On opening day Getlz had struck out all four of the batters he faced. That’s lovely. This doesn’t change the fact that he’s Steve Geltz and probably shouldn’t be pitching in such high leverage situations when better options are available. After getting Steve Pearce to ground into a force at second, and the left handed Travis Snider at the plate, Cash opted to leave Geltz in the game instead of bringing in the left handed Jeff Beliveau. And it was only during Snider’s at bat, in which he eventually walked, that Kevin Jepsen began warming up. The thought of Jepsen facing Adam Jones is a much less terrifying one than that of Geltz. Luckily for the Rays Geltz was able to get Jones to ground into a double play. The results were good, but having Steve Geltz pitch your highest leverage situations probably isn’t a smart bet going forward.
I’d have to agree with Hahmann. While pulling Grant Balfour after allowing a pair of base runners made total sense, relying on Geltz instead of a high leverage pitcher like Jepsen seemed a bit curious. As they say, it is what it is.
The New What Next
Jake Odorizzi will take the mound Wednesday night against Miguel Gonzalez, in the series finale. Tampa Bay will attempt to salvage a game before heading to Miami for a three-game set against the Marlins, starting Friday. You can read about the pitching match-up in our series preview.
Rays 4/8/15 Starting Lineup
DeJesus DH
Souza RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Jennings LF
Kiermaier CF
Forsythe 2B
Dykstra 1B
Rivera C
Odorizzi RHP
Noteworthiness
— John Jaso is likely headed to the disabled list after sustaining a left wrist contusion in the season opener. Jaso remained “pretty sore” and painful, which doesn’t bode well for someone whose primary job is to swing the bat.
The range of motion, the mobility of it is still pretty restricted, Jaso told the media before Tuesday’s contest. There is definitely pain there. I’ve sprained my ankle before and I’d say it’s something like that.
Cash said they will continue to evaluate Jaso on a daily basis. Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) opined, it would seem they’d need to either have him back or put him on the disabled list by Friday, when they open a series in Miami under National League rules, where pinch-hitters are needed.
In that case, the Rays could recall Mikie Mahtook or Curt Casali, or create spot on the roster by recalling Burch Smith and immediately placing him on the 60-day DL. That would allow Corey Brown or Joey Butler, or Vince Belnome or Allan Dykstra pending Loney’s status.
Jaso said he would rethink sliding headfirst into second when he returns,
It’s nobody’s fault really except mine. I don’t know how many times I’ve been told, ‘You could’ve slid feet-first you know.’ It’s one of those things where I’m probably going to slide feet-first next time no matter what. I don’t want this to happen again.
— James Loney was scratched before the game because he “tweaked his right side” and was removed for “precautionary reasons.” Loney told Topkin he felt the discomfort in his side — not his oblique, which could be worse — after hitting and expects to be back during the weekend.
Hopefully it feels better (today), that’s the goal, and go from there, said the first baseman.
Other medical matters
— Alex Cobb had his “best day yet” of throwing since being shut down on March 17, “playing catch with my dad Ron (Porterfield, the head athletic trainer). Nick Franklin had “no issues” taking his first live batting practice left-handed. Franklin also fielded grounders. Alex Colome and Ronald Belisario were to throw simulated games Tuesday in Port Charlotte.
— Drew Smyly will start his rehab stint with the Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs in their Florida State League opener on Thursday. Kevin Cash told Bill Chastain (MLB.com) that the team wants to get him back as soon as possible, which might mean bringing him back once he’s built up to handle 75 pitches.
Smyly was asked about that Tuesday afternoon:
I want to get back as soon as possible, but right now, it’s just one game at a time. I have to feel confident and ready to face Major League hitters. Can’t just jump in there. (Otherwise) I don’t know if I’ll do the team that much good. But I’m hoping to do that as soon as I can.
Smyly and the Rays should know more about his progress following the game Thursday,
Yeah. I haven’t even thrown a game yet, Smyly said. When I get out there and face hitters, see how I’m competing with my pitches, I’ll know a lot more. But right now, I can’t really say.
You can hear part of Smyly’s interview below: