Andriese, who hadn’t gone six innings in a game for the Rays this season, put down the first Red Sox in order before Xander Bogaerts singled to right. All told, Andriese fanned five of his first 10 hitters, and retired 18 of 19 batters, throwing just 70 pitches (48 for strikes, 69% K%, just under 12 pitches per inning).
With the game knotted at zero, Asdrubal Cabrera spearheaded the Rays rally in the fifth inning with a leadoff triple to right-center off Wade Miley. To borrow a phrase from former manager Joe Maddon, Cabrera seems to be getting toasty, as the triple was his fifth hit in six at-bats. Jake Elmore followed a groundout by David DeJesus with his second homer of the season — a liner into the 162 Landing for a lead the team would never relinquish. Up to that point, the Rays scored just one run in 23 innings against Boston’s left handed hurler.
Andriese was followed by McGee, who made a rare seventh inning appearance. McGee faced the 2-3-4 hitters in the order, and though he got into a triplet of full counts against the three batters, the lefty retired the side in order — garnering a roar from the 23,876 in attendance as McGee struck out David Ortiz to end the frame. McGee has held opposing batters scoreless in all but one of his 17 appearances, lowering his ERA and FIP to 1.69 and 1.10 (respectively).
Rene Rivera added to the Rays lead with a two-out homer, to deep left field, in the bottom of the seventh, but Jepsen handed the run right back when he allowed a two-out homer in the eighth to Alejandro De Aza. However, Evan Longoria belted his eighth homer in the bottom of the inning, against Matt Barnes, to extend the lead to three once again.
Boxberger came on in the ninth, and though he allowed a two-out single, he fanned Bogaerts to earn his 20th save. For the Rays, it was the 26th time the pitching staff has allowed three hits or fewer since the start of the 2014 season. Moreover, the team is a major league-best 30-6 when they score first.
The New What Next
The Rays will wrap up their three-game set against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Chris Archer (9-4, 2.01 ERA) will get the start opposite of fellow righty Justin Masterson. Archer, who is 1-5 with a 5.18 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox, has won a career-high six straight decisions. To be fair, he is 28-18 with a 2.88 ERA in 69 career appearances against other opponents. Masterson — making his first appearance since May 14 — gets the first crack at replacing Joe Kelly, who was optioned to Triple-A on Thursday. In 15 career games (11 starts) against the Rays, Masterson is 2-8 with a 6.93 ERA. You can read about the matchup in our series preview.
Rays 6/28/15 Starting Lineup
Cabrera SS
Sizemore DH
Longoria 3B
DeJesus LF
Forsythe 2B
Souza RF
Krauss 1B
Guyer CF
Rivera C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
— The Rays have selected the contract of OF Grady Sizemore, who will get the start today as the DH, hitting second. The team corresponded by moving Desmond Jennings to 60-day DL, and optioned Andriese back to Triple-A Durham. Sizemore will wear number 24, with third-base coach Charlie Montoyo switching to 25.
With Moore coming back Thursday, #rays don’t need to carry 5 starters this week. Looks like they want to see what Sizemore has left in tank
— Roger Mooney (@RMooneyTBO) June 28, 2015
— Erasmo Ramirez, Matt Moore, and Jake Odorizzi are on pace to rejoin the Rays rotation; Ramirez and Moore this week, and Odorizzi after what likely will be two minor-league rehab starts.
Odorizzi threw a 51 pitch live batting practice session off the mound yesterday at Tropicana Field (16 pitches in the first inning, 18 in the second, and 17 in the third). Odorizzi, who received a big hug from teammate Chris Archer after the session, said he was pain free and called session “really good.” He is scheduled to make one or two rehab starts, and could be back in the rotation as early as Tuesday, July 7.
Moore threw 94 pitches (56 strikes) over five innings Saturday for Durham. He allowed five hits and two earned runs. Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team will wait until the lefty returns from Durham before they map out who pitches when.
Ramirez threw a bullpen session on Saturday and is set to start Tuesday against the Indians.
— Tim Beckham was optioned to Triple-A Durham after he was activated from the DL yesterday, giving Jake Elmore the lone utility spot on the Rays bench.
— Only three teams have more wins than Tampa Bay: the St. Louis Cardinals have 50, and both the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals have 43.