LBWMF: Tampa Bay Rays power past Baltimore Orioles, 10-3

This scrappy group of players plated 10-runs, and belted four homers on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays plated 10-runs, belted four homers, and blew out the Orioles in Baltimore on Saturday, 10–3.

After a one hour and 12 minute rain delay, Tampa Bay charged out the gate early against Orioles’ RHP Dylan Bundy. Mallex Smith kicked things with a hard hit single up the middle, then scored all the way from first on Evan Longoria’s hit-and-run base hit right-center. After Corey Dickerson flew out to deep left center, Logan Morrison blasted a two-run homer to center (his 23rd, tying a career high) for a three-run lead.

But the Orioles got on the board in the second inning against Jake Odorizzi, who again battled on the mound. Mark Trumbo walked with one out, then went to second on Wellington Castillo’s infield hit that Longoria couldn’t handle. Craig Gentry capped the rally with an RBI single to center, scoring Trumbo to make it 3–1. Odorizzi, thankfully, was able to limit damage, although he needed 36 pitches to get through the frame.

Sensing another “uh-oh” type of game, the Rays immediately answered in the third with back-to-back, two-out homers from Morrison and Steven Souza Jr. — the 11th time this season they have hit back-to-back homers, adding to the team’s club record.

Morrison’s 24th homer of the season was massive, landing on Eutaw Street at Camden Yards. He’ll receive a plaque for the feat.

To be a part of this ballpark for the rest of its existence is pretty cool, Morrison said after the game.

Yet the Rays weren’t done, and in the fifth inning Souza beat out a potential inning-ending double play ball before Wilson “the Buffalo” Ramos joined in on the fun by belting a three-run homer into the bullpen in left-center off reliever Alec Asher.

Ramos’ towering three-run homer

Wilson Ramos skies a three-run home run to left-center field, extending the Rays’ lead to 8-1 in the top of the 5th inning

The Orioles got two runs back on Jonathan Schoop’s two-out homer off Odorizzi in the fifth. The right-hander has now given up at least one homer in 13 of his 14 starts.

The Rays, however, continued to pile it on, scoring on doubles by Smith and Dickerson, and giving them double digit runs for the eighth time this season.

On the mound, Erasmo Ramirez followed Odorizzi and gave the Rays three scoreless innings. Erasmo has now thrown four scoreless frames since transitioning back to the bullpen.

Finally Adam Kolarek, who grew up in the Baltimore area, threw a scoreless ninth in his second big league appearance; make that two innings of work without a run.

The New What Next

The Rays will go for the death blow against the Orioles on Sunday, in the series finale. Alex Cobb (6-5, 3.73 ERA, 4.01 FIP) will get the start for Tampa Bay, opposite of Kevin Gausman (4-7, 6.07 ERA, 5.19 FIP).

Cobb flirted with a no-hitter in his start against the Pirates on Tuesday, pitching into the seventh inning without allowing a hit. Josh Harrison broke up his bid, but he still tossed eight scoreless innings and earned his fourth consecutive quality start.

Gausman has struggled with his control at points this season, but he is coming off his best outing of 2017 against Toronto. The right-hander didn’t relinquish a run for the first time this season, and allowed just four hits over 5-1/3 innings. Gausman held the opposition without an extra-base hit and allowed just two base runners past first. He wasn’t as efficient over his last couple of innings, and his pitch count hit 99 before he was removed one out into the sixth. Be that as it may, his ERA still sits at an unsightly 6.07 for the season (5.19 FIP). Key Matchups: Evan Longoria (7-24, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB), Trevor Plouffe (4-9, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (2-6, HR, RBI), Jesus Sucre (1-3, 2B, RBI)

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 7/2/17 Starting Lineup

Smith CF
Dickerson LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza DH
Beckham SS
Featherston 2B
Sucre C
Bourjos RF
Cobb RHP

Noteworthiness

— Hey look, someone from ESPN noticed the Rays for something other than trade rumors! BFD.

LBWMF: Tampa Bay Rays rally to beat the O’s in 10, 6-4

Ladies and gentlemen, the quality start machine that is Jacob Faria. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays squandered an early two-run lead, yet rallied in the 10th inning when Steven Souza Jr. hit a three-run homer against Darren O’Day to put them up by three. Alex Colome bent, but didn’t break, to close out the game, as the Rays beat the Orioles, 6-4.


How about this for Toad’s wild ride? Source: FanGraphs

The Rays built a two-run lead against Chris Tillman in the second inning, thanks to Wilson “the Buffalo” Ramos, who sent a spinner, that caught too much of the plate, to deep centerfield — his first home run as a Ray.

The long-ball followed Steven Souza Junior’s single to left.

But Baltimore got on the board in the third inning, taking advantage of a rare error by Adeiny Hechavarria. Wellington Castillo led off the rally when he hit a screamer off the right hand of Hechavarria. Two batters later, Castillo scored on a double to left-center by Joey Rickard, making it a one run game.

Tillman was much better than he had been all season until the sixth inning, when the Rays found themselves with an excellent opportunity to blow the game open. Both Evan Longoria and Logan Morrison hit singles, and Souza walked to load the bases with none out.

With the specter of the Buffalo looming on deck, Orioles skipper Buck Showalter called upon the hard throwing Miguel Castro to take over, lifting Tillman. Ramos worked a favorable 3-1 count before he grounded into a 5–2–3 double play. Then, with a pair of runners now in scoring position, Tim Beckham struck out to end the threat.

Given new life, Baltimore did what they should have, and immediately answered when Rickard homered to left on a 2–1 pitch off Faria, tying the game at two. The Orioles took the lead in the seventh.

Adam Jones lead off the frame with a double to right, then ended up at third on a throwing error by Souza. Mark Trumbo immediately singled to left, giving the Orioles their first lead of the game. After Faria coaxed a double play ball, ending his outing, Tommy Hunter entered in relief and got the final out of the seventh.

All told, the right-handed Faria gave up just four hits and two earned runs over 6-2/3 innings, while striking out six. It was his fifth consecutive quality start to begin his big league career.

Marc Topkin said it best in today’s edition of the Tampa Bay Times,

Rookie starter Jake Faria passed another test in his crash course on being part of a big-league rotation, handling the challenge of facing the same team in a second straight start, and the potent Orioles at that, in hitter-friendly Camden Yards.

Faria became just one of three pitchers since start of 2013 to begin his career with five straight quality starts; Mashiro Tanaka (2016) and Odrisamer Despaigne (2005) are the other two. He also leads MLB rookies with with 35 strikeouts and a 2.23 ERA, while his 7.00 K/BB ratio ranks third in American League behind Corey Kluber and Chris Sale.

Brad Boxberger made his first appearance of the season in the eighth inning, after being recalled from the DL. Boxy looked like the dominating Boxy of old, fanning the side on 13 pitches and looking really good along the way. He spotted his zippy fastball, which touched 95 mph on multiple occasions, and because of it, his changeup was all the more effective — with a good 12-16 mph of separation from the fastball.

(Credit: Brooks Baseball)

Equally as important, Boxberger spotted his pitches and threw them for strikes. Welcome back, Brad!

With the prospect of the Rays dropping their third consecutive game quickly emerging, they did something wholly unexpected against the Orioles A-bullpen — Tampa Bay tied the game in the ninth against Brad Brach, who hadn’t blown a save in over a month. Pinch-hitter Shane Peterson worked a two out walk, then went to second on a balk. Peter Bourjos entered the game to pinch-run for Peterson, although not that it really mattered, as he was wild pitched up to third. Hechavarria then became one of the heroes of the ball game when he hit an RBI single to left — his fourth hit of the night — tying the game.

Jumbo Diaz sent the game into extra innings after he pitched a perfect ninth…well, perfect on paper. Diaz got very lucky because he left two very hittable spinners over the heart of the plate to Johnathan Schoop — two glaring mistakes, as Ramos clearly called for the sliders to be in the dirt each time. Schoop got ahead of the first hanging slider, hooking it just foul down the left-field line, then just under the second slider, popping it up over the infield. Diaz caught a break, and the Rays took advantage by taking the lead in the 10th.

Against Darren O’Day, Corey Dickerson walked to start the frame, then advanced to second on Longoria’s groundout. After LoMo was intentionally walked, Souza belted a 3–2 pitch over the center-field wall, which was just the second homer O’Day has allowed this season.

The homer was of course ironic because the slugger has said before that he takes intentional walks in front of him personally.

Finally in the bottom of the 10th, Alex Colome — after allowing a leadoff homer to Mark Trumbo on the first pitch of the at-bat — closed out the game by notching his 21st save. It wasn’t easy, although nothing with El Coballo ever is. It, however, provided him with some reassurance that he was over whatever ailed him during three consecutive rough outings.

I think I’m back, Colome said after the game. I feel really good, I got my strike zone every time, my cutter was great.

The New What Next

The Rays will go for the series win Saturday afternoon when the face the Orioles in the second of the three games. Jake Odorizzi (4-3, 4.00 ERA, 5.48 FIP) will get the start, opposite of Dylan Bundy (8-6, 3.73 ERA, 4.75 FIP). Interestingly enough, today’s matchup features pitchers who have allowed homers in 10 and 11 consecutive games respectively. For his part, Odorizzi did some extensive work during his bullpen sessions to straighten out a mechanical flaw that had him falling toward first base when he delivered the pitch, which disrupted his line to home plate and led to inconsistencies in his delivery. It will be interesting to see if the extra work pays dividends.

You can read more about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 7/1/17 Starting Lineup

Smith CF
Dickerson DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Ramos C
Peterson LF
Hechavarria SS
Featherston 2B
Odorizzi RHP

Noteworthiness

— Rays skipper Kevin Cash has been chosen as a coach for the 2017 All-Star Game by AL manager, and good friend, Terry Francona.

— Tim Beckham, who tweaked his ankle during last night’s ball-game, isn’t in this afternoon’s lineup. Instead, Taylor Featherstone will take over at second base, hitting ninth in the lineup.

Rays 6/30/17 starting lineup and pregame notes

Introducing the 1896, deadball era Baltimore Orioles.
The Tampa Bay Rays kick off a three-game series with the Orioles in Baltimore tonight. Jacob Faria is slated to take the mound opposite of Chris Tillman.

You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 6/30/17 Starting Lineup

Smith CF
Dickerson LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Ramos C
Beckham 2B
Plouffe DH
Hechavarria SS
Faria RHP

Noteworthiness

— Tonight’s starting lineup has Trevor Plouffe as the DH, hitting eighth.

— The Rays went 4-for-29 wRISP over the last three days. Hopefully they can break out of their malaise tonight against Tillman.

— The Rays have voided the option of INF Daniel Robertson, and instead have placed him on the major-league DL due to neck spasms (retroactive to June 26).

— ESPN predicts that OF/DH Corey Dickerson and RHP Chris Archer will represent the Rays in the 2017 All Star Game — no more, no less.

The New What Next: Rays Vs. Orioles — a series preview

It would be nice if the Rays could go on a tear going into the All-Star Break. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After posting their second consecutive series loss, the Tampa Bay Rays hope to turn their fortunes around in Baltimore, where they’ll start a three game series against the Orioles on Friday.

(Stats: ESPN)

In spite of the loss to the Bucs, the Rays have won 12 of their last 21 games and remain relevant in the AL East. The offense has been very good of late, averaging 5.89 runs per game over their last 19 games. The bullpen, however, has struggled to a 6.26 ERA over the last 10 games, even though it hasn’t really hurt the bottom line. Tampa Bay does need to get the ‘pen under control, or they could start to slide if the offense goes into an extended slump.

The Orioles have had a tough go of it over the back half of the first-half of the season, yet they still sit just 4-1/2 games out of first in the AL East. They’ve played some of their best baseball at home, where they are 24-14 — compare that to their 14-25 record away from Camden Yards. Baltimore’s pitching staff seems to be turning a corner, as they’ve allowed (on average) just 3.25 runs per game over a four game stretch. However, they went just 4-12 and allowed a whopping 8.56 runs per game over their previous 16 games. If they have any hope of staying in the playoff race, they will need their pitching staff to do what it has done over the last week.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will lean on Jacob Faria (3-0, 2.10 ERA, 2.71 FIP), Jake Odorizzi (4-3, 4.00 ERA, 5.48 FIP), and Alex Cobb (6-5, 3.73 ERA, 4.01 FIP). Buck Showalter will counter with Chris Tillman (1-5, 8.39 ERA, 6.39 FIP), Dylan Bundy (8-6, 3.73 ERA, 4.75 FIP), and Kevin Gausman (4-7, 6.07 ERA, 5.19 FIP).

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Pitching Matchups

Faria has recorded a quality start in all four of his previous outings, allowing just six earned runs in 25-2/3 innings in that span. His command wasn’t as crisp in his last start as it had been over his previous three, yet it wasn’t terrible. All told he posted a solid 6 IP/5 H/3 ER/1 BB/108 pitch (74 strikes) line, in an outing where he was undone by a hit batsman and a pair of long-balls on two mistake pitches. He kept the Rays in the game, and if that constitutes a bad start I’ll gladly take it.

Tillman has struggled with walks and home runs this season, and owns an 11.14 ERA in June with 40 hits allowed, 13 walks and seven home runs over just 21 innings. Moreover, the right-hander has allowed at least three runs in each of his past nine starts — including five runs (four earned) on eight hits against Tampa Bay last Sunday — and owns a disastrous 8.39 ERA and 2.18 WHIP for the season. Key Matchups: Tim Beckham (1-4, RBI, BB), Peter Bourjos (1-2), Taylor featherstone (1-1, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (20-66, 4 2B, 3B, 9 HR, 14 RBI, 6 BB), Logan Morrison (6-17, 2B, 3B, RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (3-11, 2B, RBI, BB), Mallex Smith (1-1, 2 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (7-22, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB), Jesus Sucre (1-2)

Odorizzi, in a food poisoning induced haze, coughed up four earned runs on seven hits over 5-1/3 innings against the Orioles on Sunday. It was the first time since May 16 that he had allowed more than three earned runs in a start. Now healthy, he should be more effective on Saturday.

Bundy will be working on some extra rest as the Orioles monitor his workload; the right-hander has already racked up 27-1/3 innings through five starts this month, and 99 on the season. He is looking to bounce back from a difficult month after he recorded a 5.94 ERA in June, with opponents posting an .882 OPS against him. To his credit, Bundy limited the Rays to three runs on five hits (including a pair of homers) over seven innings on Saturday. He struck out eight. Key Matchups: Tim Beckham (2-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Evan Longoria (4-11, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Logan Morrison (3-10, 2B, BB), Mallex Smith (1-2, BB)

Cobb flirted with a no-hitter in his start against the Pirates on Tuesday, pitching into the seventh inning without allowing a hit. Josh Harrison broke up his bid, but he still tossed eight scoreless innings and earned his fourth consecutive quality start.

Gausman has struggled with his control at points this season, but he is coming off his best outing of 2017 against Toronto. The right-hander didn’t relinquish a run for the first time this season, and allowed just four hits over 5-1/3 innings. Gausman held the opposition without an extra-base hit and allowed just two base runners past first. He wasn’t as efficient over his last couple of innings, and his pitch count hit 99 before he was removed one out into the sixth. Be that as it may, his ERA still sits at an unsightly 6.07 for the season (5.19 FIP). Key Matchups: Evan Longoria (7-24, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB), Trevor Plouffe (4-9, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (2-6, HR, RBI), Jesus Sucre (1-3, 2B, RBI)

LBWMF: Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays fall to the Pirates, 6-2

A very ‘Souza’ picture. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Blake Snell was inconsistent in his first start after being recalled from Durham, allowing four two-out runs in the first inning. The Tampa Bay Rays ultimately fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, 6-2.

The Tampa Bay Rays took an early lead after Corey Dickerson scored on Evan Longoria’s double in the top of the first against Ivan Nova. Yet the Pirates responded in the bottom of the frame against Snell, who put down the first two batters on just five pitches.

The Rays’ southpaw followed by walking both Andrew McCutchen and David Freese, and allowing an RBI ground-rule double to Jose Osuna, tying the game at one. After Josh Bell walked, loading the bases, Snell uncorked a wild pitch which put the Pirates ahead by a run. Elias Diaz capped the first inning rally on a two-RBI single to right, putting the Bucs up by three.

After a relatively quick and quiet top half of the second, Snell collected himself and retired the next six batters. He, however, lapsed again in the fourth and fifth innings, allowing a run on Josh Bell’s solo shot, and another in the fifth on Osuna’s double with two outs, following McCutchen’s walk.

That’s a lot of pitches outside of the zone. (Credit: Brooks Baseball)

Snell — who showed moments of dominance — walked five over five innings, and gave up all six runs on just four hits … although he did collect six strikeouts.

The Rays plated their second run in the third inning on a bases-loaded sacrifice-fly by Wilson Ramos. However, in spite of more scoring opportunities than I have toes, they left 11 runners on base in all but the ninth inning, going 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Tim Beckham’s second inning base running gaffe certainly didn’t help the cause.

Bucs get Beckham in a rundown

David Freese fields a soft ground ball, then throws home to catch Tim Beckham in a rundown for the second out of the inning

Granted multi-hit games from Corey Dickerson, Evan Longoria, Beckham and Adeiny Hechavarria are great, but when you only plate two runs, well…

After Snell’s departure, Danny Farquahar, Jose Jumbo Diaz and Erasmo Ramirez threw scoreless innings, but the damage was done.

The New What Next

Tampa Bay will try for meatloaf on Thursday when Chris Archer (6-4, 3.88 ERA, 2.89 FIP) takes the mound in the series finale, opposite Jameson Taillon (3-2, 3.33 ERA, 3.79 FIP).

Archer received plenty of run support in a 15-5 win over the Orioles, which is good because he wasn’t particularly great. Archer gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits over six innings on Friday. He also fanned a season-low four batters. The Rays hope their ace can bounce back in the series finale on Thursday.

Taillon hurled six strong innings and struck out seven on Friday, holding the Cardinals to two runs on four hits. This season Taillon has relied upon a mid-90s fastball (both two and four seam), and an upper 80s changeup. The 25 year-old right-hander isn’t a strikeout machine, rather he gets by by coaxing ground balls and slowing down the pace of the game if/when runners get aboard. That approach has its virtues and disadvantages, as Taillon has posted three starts without an earned run, and three starts with at least four. Key Matchup: Adeiny Hechavarria (1-2)

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 6/29/17 Starting Lineup

Souza Jr. CF
Dickerson LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Beckham 2B
Peterson RF
Hechavarria SS
Sucre C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— RHP Brad Boxberger will be activated before Thursday’s ball game, having rehabbed his right shoulder flexor and gotten over some oblique soreness. To make room for Boxberger, Danny Farquhar was designated for assignment. The Rays opted to instead keep RHP Jumbo Diaz.

— RHP Austin Pruitt was optioned back to Triple-A Durham with plans of being slotted back into the starting rotation, which would provide depth with right-handers Jose De Leon and Taylor Guerrieri on the DL.

— LHP Jose Alvarado was optioned to Triple-A Durham “with a message,” from Rays skipper Kevin Cash: work on throwing the curveball for strikes more often, and experiment with a cutter/slider to get hitters off the triple digit fastball.

— While OF Colby Rasmus (hip) is eligible to come off the DL, he reportedly isn’t ready, as a rehab assignment has yet to be scheduled.

— I just voted (again) for the current AL DH vote leader. There’s still a little time left to keep Corey Dickerson atop the pack…#VoteCorey now!