I won’t dig into the guts of last night’s mess; you likely can guess why. Instead, here are some gory details from the meltdown and/or schadenfreude (depending on your point of view).
Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times)
- It matched the largest blown ninth inning lead in a defeat in franchise history; on June 5, 2007 at Toronto they led 11-6 in the ninth and lost 12-11.
- It was the largest ninth-inning lead they’d ever blown in a home game.
- It was largest overall lead they’d blown since Aug. 9, 2013 at the Dodgers, when they led 6-0 and lost 7-6.
- It was their largest overall blown lead at home since May 6, 2013 against the Blue Jays, when they led 7-0 and lost 8-7.
- They lost for only the second time in 30 games this season when leading after eight innings.
- The eight runs allowed were the second most in franchise history for a ninth inning; on June 2, 2006 against Toronto they allowed nine in a 13-4 loss.
- It was the most runs they allowed in any inning since June 13, 2013, against the Royals, when they allowed eigth in the sixth.
- The seven hits allowed were the most in any inning since Aug 23, 2015 at Oakland (eight in the seventh) and the most at home since June 13, 2013 against the Royals (eight in the sixth).
Blame Kevin Cash, after all he pulled Matt Andriese after three innings and just 27 pitches. Then again, Cash made a valid point in his postgame presser:
Given his (Andriese) recent workload and also when you separate the game to five runs — a five-run lead, we’re capable of having pitchers that need to go out there and get the job done for us.
In other words, blame Ryan Garton, who should have been able to finish the game. To his credit, Garton did attack the strike zone. However, he didn’t throw quality strikes and got hammered when he left pitches over the heart of the plate.
Garton, who allowed four of the seven ninth inning hits, left the game with the bases loaded and no outs.
I went out there with same mind-set, pound the zone, try to get three outs, do my job, and it just didn’t happen today, Garton said after the game. Today was probably the best I’ve ever felt. Baseball being baseball, balls find holes, guys make good swings. Happens.
And to be fair, Ramirez deserves his share of the blame too, as he faced six batters and the only out he got was a fly ball that scored a run.
Things like that happen when your command lapses, and you can’t execute your pitches.
Just awful work from me, Ramirez said. I didn’t do what I was supposed to do. I didn’t throw strikes when I was supposed to throw them. …At that moment I felt good, it was just that the ball wasn’t moving. Maybe I was too much excited about the bases loaded and tried to get out of trouble quick. When you don’t execute those pitches you are in hitter’s counts, and something bad is going to happen when you do that no matter how you feel.
Keys to a Ninth Inning Meltdown
- Two walks were issued by the Rays in the ninth.
- Three pitchers were used by the Rays used
- Five consecutive singles were allowed before the Rays recorded the first out.
- Of Detroit’s 11 hits, seven came in the ninth.
- Tampa Bay allowed eight runs.
- Of the 41 total pitches thrown, 24 went for strikes (58% K%)
The New What Next
There still is hope for the Rays to string together a pre-All Star Break run. However, to do so they’ll have to play at least .800 baseball over the next 10 games going into the break. Tampa Bay should have notched a tally in the win column last night, because tonight will not be easy. Drew Smyly (2-8, 5.32 ERA) will take the mound for the Rays, opposite of Michael Fulmer (7-2, 2.40 ERA).
Smyly is 0-4 with three no-decisions over his past seven starts — the longest losing streak of his career. Like Odorizzi before him, Smyly has not won at Tropicana Field this season. The southpaw is 0-1 with a 5.56 ERA in two starts against his former team. Fulmer has allowed just one run or fewer in each of his past seven starts, including seven innings of four-hit, one-run ball when he struck out 11 against the Rays on May 21. In short, Longo and company are going to have to do yeoman’s work tonight. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 7/1/16 Starting Lineup
Forsythe 2B
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Guyer CF
Dickerson DH
Franklin LF
Arcia RF
Conger C
LHP Smyly
Noteworthiness
— Desmond Jennings in the third inning of last night’s contest with tightness in his left hamstring. Jennings, who is listed as day-to-day, will be evaluated this afternoon. When asked if he thought it could be a long-term injury, Jennings told Topkin,
Nah, it just tightened up on me. It should be good.
— RHP Brad Boxberger (oblique) threw a 15 pitch bullpen session Thursday, his first since his injury.
— RHP Alex Colome (right medial biceps tendinitis) played catch at 90 feet.
— In preparation for Fulmer, Nick Franklin, Taylor Motter, Oswaldo Arcia and Curt Casali took batting practice off the curveball machine.
— According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rays are first team to lose at home when leading by five or more runs in the ninth inning since 1922 (Senators).