Let’s sum the game up quickly, shall we?
Hellickson got beat (relatively speaking, duh) by a team that’s averaged under two-runs per game in their previous six games. In the end, he posted a spotty 6 IP/5 H/5 R/5 ER/4 BB/8 K/1 HR slash line on 111 pitches (68 for strikes). Then again, Helly could have given up just three-runs and it really wouldn’t have mattered, especially when the offense could only muster two runs on five hits and four walks. 1-for-6 wRISP while stranding six on the bags? Yeesh.
There was one bright spot Thursday night: Jose Lobaton. Yes, you read that right.
Lobaton had been 4-for-27 at the plate going into Chicago, but that all changed last night. Going 2-for-2 with a walk, Lobaton was an offensive machine (again, relatively speaking), mashing 368 foot homer to left-field in the fourth inning for his first major league home run from the right side, and his first tater of the year. Sadly with Luke Scott on rehab assignment in Port Charlotte, Lobaton was left high and dry without a bowl of ice-cream to celebrate his accomplishment. David Price thankfully came to the rescue with a popsicle, and it was all the cameras could focus on.
He also had a great block at the plate, preventing Chicago’s catcher Conner Gillaspie from scoring. ‘The umpire asked me afterwards if he was out and I just said ‘I don’t know, I couldn’t see the replay!’” said Lobaton in a post game interview.
Lobaton’s homer made this the eleventh straight game that the Rays have hit at least one home-run, the nineteenth homerun over the span of those eleven games.
The New What Next
Roberto Hernandez takes the mound for the Rays tonight against Jake Peavy of the White Sox, as he tries to string together his second straight win. You can read up on the match-up here.
Rays 4/26/13 Starting Lineup
Joyce RF
Roberts 2B
Zobrist SS
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Rodriguez LF
Johnson DH
Molina C
Fuld CF
Hernandez RHP
Noteworthiness
- Jennings is getting the day off, while Joyce is hitting leadoff in an effort to get him hot at the plate.
- Per Topkin, Escobar said he feels better today, will do some activities on field, and expects to play Saturday.
- Per the Tampa Bay Times, Evan Longoria reached out to, and cleared the air with former Rays James Shields. “He texted me that he was sorry for the comments and that he respects our relationship and values our friendship,” Noted Shields Kansas City. “I told him, “Don’t worry about it, it’s all good, I accept your apology.’ ”
- Yunel Escobar’s status is likely to be determined Friday. Escobar sat out last night, and is expected to sit out tonight as well, after experiencing hamstring tightness during Wednesday’s game.
- Per MLB, Rays minor-leaguer Jose Disla has been suspended for 50-games after testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol and Nandrolone.