The captain looks on. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
It was one of those games where Miguel Cabrera’s walk-off home run could be seen from a mile away.
Despite battling back from a one-run deficit in the top of the eighth inning — thanks to Steven Souza Jr’s no-doubter to left-field to tie the game at three — Tommy Hunter quickly fell behind Alex Avilla 3-1 before giving up a one out base hit. Hunter also quickly fell behind Miggy, 2-1, before he threw a mistake fastball over the heart of the plate.
(Credit: Brooks Baseball)
Cabrera being Cabrera didn’t swing through the errant fastball, rather he barreled it up and sent it to the opposite field for the game winning homer.
All this came after Alex Cobb’s workman-like start against Justin Verlander. It wasn’t a pitching duel by any stretch of the imagination, but Cobb battled and gave up only two runs over 6-2/3 innings. The Rays’ right-hander fanned just three batters, and walked a pair while giving up eight hits, although he was able to lean on his split-change — throwing it 17 times (12 for strikes, two whiffs), which is a lot compared to the number he threw earlier in the season. The Tigers only put two of them in play, and the pitch did appear to regain some of its pre-surgery depth.
Verlander put together a similar performance, forcing the Rays to cobble together some offense. In the top of the second inning, Tampa Bay manufactured a run after Logan Morrison led off the frame with a line-drive single into left-center field, before Steven Souza Jr. worked a free pass. Colby Rasmus followed with a chopper to first base, which allowed both runners to move up. Daniel Robertson plated the run on a grounder up the middle.
Then Mallex Smith led things off with a single to right in the third. Two batters later, Morrison lashed a hanging curve over the head of Alex Presley in center. As the ball bounded to the wall, Smith scored from first.
Unfortunately a rare error by Robertson allowed the Tigers to regain the lead in the seventh inning. Jumbo Diaz — on in relief for Cobb — coaxed what should have been an inning ending ground ball to short. Robertson positioned himself to get behind the ball yet slipped on wet infield, which allowed the ball to punch through the infield, breaking the deadlock. For the sure handed Robertson, it was the second error of the game after not erring all season. To his credit, he did start a double play in the fifth inning when he made a ridiculous backhanded stab from one knee, then fired over to Michael Martinez at second.
Speaking of ridiculous plays, Smith made a diving catch on a sinking line drive. As BA noted on the telecast, he didn’t take a perfect route, and he wasn’t sure whether he could get there or play it off the bounce. However, his speed and athleticism allowed him to make the proper adjustment, which resulted in an out.
The Rays and Tigers play the second of four games on Friday. Erasmo Ramirez (3-1, 4.20 ERA, 3.73 FIP) will get the start opposite left-hander Daniel Norris (3-4, 4.41 ERA, 4.17 FIP).
Ramirez allowed 10 hits and a walk over 5-1/3 innings, yet held Oakland to three runs in his last start. He beat the Tigers in the final game of the above mentioned three-game sweep, allowing just two hits and one run.
Norris hasn’t completed the fifth inning in three of his 12 starts, including his last start against Tampa Bay on April 20. He has allowed an equal number hits to the number of strikeouts he’s collected over his previous four starts, with a 3.63 ERA over that span. It appears that he has started to fix things, as his self inflicted wounds (and/or the wounds inflicted by others) don’t appear to be effecting him as much. Take a recent start against the BoSox for example, when he worked around a third inning misplay in centerfield which allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to move into scoring position with one out. He limited the damage and work out of the jam. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (1-2), Evan Longoria (4-7, 2B, RBI, BB), Michael Martinez (1-1, BB), Steven Souza Jr. (3-8, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Jesus Sucre (1-2)
A soggy Comerica Park, site of tonight’s supposed game between the Rays and Tigers. (Photo Credit: Marc Topkin)
The Tampa Bay Rays are slated to start a four game series against the Tigers tonight, although rainy weather in the Detroit area might have other ideas. In any case, below is the starting lineup for the Rays, and a few pregame notes.
Rays 6/15/17 Starting Lineup
Smith CF
Dickerson DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Rasmus LF
Robertson SS
Martinez 2B
Sucre C
Cobb RHP
Noteworthiness
— Tim Beckham, tending to his sore knee, is out of the lineup again tonight for the Rays. Michael Martinez will get the start at second base, while Daniel Robertson will handle the shortstop duties. With a left-hander on the mound Friday, Beckham will likely return to the lineup then.
— After a spate of poor play in the series finale Wednesday night, Jesus Sucre will takeover behind the plate tonight, not Derek Norris.
— You can read about tonight’s Cobb/Verlander pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview.
Logan Morrison and the Rays are set to start a four-game series against the Tigers in Detroit on Thursday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
On the heels of a series split against the Blue Jays, the Tampa Bay Rays look to avenge their 7-6 loss on Wednesday, when they start a four-game series against the sub .500 Tigers, in Detroit. Le Tigre has dropped two straight, and four of their last five, while the Rays have won six of their last 10.
(Stats: ESPN)
The two faced one another earlier this season, from April 19-21, in a series that was punctuated by defensive lapses in the outfield by Detroit. The Rays outscored the Tigers 21-9 in the three-game sweep at the Trop. In spite of the peripherals, their Tigers — especially Miguel Cabrera — are experiencing a power outage of sorts. Cabrera’s last homer came on May 20, and he’s gone 22 full games (95 plate appearances) without a long ball. Be that as it may, he’s hit .308 (24-78) over that span.
The Rays will look to do two things over the next four days: keep Detroit in the ball-park, and score first. The Tigers are 29-18 when they hit a homer, and 1-16 when they don’t. Furthermore, Le Tigre is 0-25 when they trail after the sixth inning, 1-25 when they trail after the seventh, and 0-28 when they trail after the eighth.
(Stats: FanGraphs)
Kevin Cash will lean on Alex Cobb (5-5, 4.29 ERA, 4.34 FIP), Erasmo Ramirez (3-1, 4.20 ERA, 3.73 FIP), Chris Archer (4-4, 3.80 ERA, 2.86 FIP), and Jacob Faria (2-0, 1.42 ERA, 1.78 FIP) this weekend. Brad Ausmus will counter with Justin Verlander (4-4, 4.68 ERA, 4.58 FIP), Daniel Norris (3-4, 4.41 ERA, 4.17 FIP), Michael Fulmer (6-4, 3.40 ERA, 3.03 FIP), and Buck Farmer (2-0, 3.52 ERA, 2.80 FIP).
(Stats: FanGraphs)
Pitching Matchups
Cobb relied heavily on a strong changeup to great effect in his last start, limiting the Athletics to one run and four hits over six innings. He got the win and improved to 5-5. Cobb’s overall 4.29 ERA would look much better if not for a miserable 5 IP/9 R/14 H start against the Mariners on June 3. He is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA against the Tigers.
Verlander, gave up three runs over five innings in his last turn. It was the right-handers first start since leaving his June 4 outing with groin tightness. Verlander has had an up and down season, due in part to his seeming inability to coax swings and misses. From last season to this, opponents’ chase rates have dropped from 16.6% to 13.7%, while their SwStr% (within the zone) have declined from 17.7% to 14 %. Be that as it may, Verlander is 2-0 with a 1.57 ERA in three career starts against Tampa Bay. Key Matchups: Evan Longoria (8-30, 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI, BB), Michael Martinez (2-8, BB), Derek Norris (3-7, RBI), Steven Souza Jr. (2-6)
Ramirez allowed 10 hits and a walk over 5-1/3 innings, yet held Oakland to three runs in his last start. He beat the Tigers in the final game of the above mentioned three-game sweep, allowing just two hits and one run.
Norris hasn’t completed the fifth inning in three of his 12 starts, including his last start against Tampa Bay on April 20. He has allowed an equal number hits to the number of strikeouts he’s collected over his previous four starts, with a 3.63 ERA over that span. It appears that he has started to fix things, as his self inflicted wounds (and/or the wounds inflicted by others) don’t appear to be effecting him as much. Take a recent start against the BoSox for example, when he worked around a third inning misplay in centerfield which allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to move into scoring position with one out. He limited the damage and work out of the jam. Key Matchups: Peter Bourjos (1-2), Evan Longoria (4-7, 2B, RBI, BB), Michael Martinez (1-1, BB), Steven Souza Jr. (3-8, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Jesus Sucre (1-2)
Archer allowed four earned runs over six innings of a no-decision in his last start against Oakland. He fanned eight. The irony? His last start against the Tigers had a similar outcome: 5 IP/4 R/9 K. The luck dragons have nipped at Archer’s heels over his last few starts — a .370 BABIP speaks to that — so it’s reasonable to assume he’s due a bounce back.
Fulmer has been shelved since June 8 after an MRI revealed inflammation in the bursa of his right shoulder. It’s no coincidence that he allowed five runs in back-to-back starts for the first time in his career. Fulmer took the loss in his last start against the Rays after he allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. Pitching Matchups: Tim Beckham (1-2, HR, 2 RBI), Derek Norris (2-3, RBI)
Faria was impressive yet again in his last start. His stuff,especially his changeup, was electric, and he fooled Toronto’s hitters left and right. He was poised and efficient, allowing just three hits on 70 pitches over five innings — calmly taking a shutout into the seventh against the power-laden Blue Jays.
Farmer had a 13-inning scoreless streak snapped in his last start, when he allowed six runs in 2-1/3 innings against the Diamondbacks. This season, the 26 year-old right-hander has relied upon a whiffy 92 MPH four-seam fastball and 85 MPH changeup, while also mixing in a 91 MPH sinker with arm-side run, a 79 MPH 12-6 slider, and a swing and miss 81 MPH cutter. Farmer faced the Rays once in relief in 2015, allowing a home run in one-third of an inning.
The Tampa Bay Rays limited the Blue Jays to one run on eight scattered hits Tuesday night. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
The Tampa Bay Rays knocked Marco Estrada out of last night’s contest after just 3-1/3 innings, while Jacob Faria collected his second win in as many chances at the big league level. Tampa Bay routed Toronto, 8–1, and start the day three games over .500 for just the second time this season.
Corey Dickerson led Tampa Bay’s 16-hit attack with four hits on the night, including a 450 foot ninth inning moon-shot. All told, the Rays hit three homers off the Blue Jays, and now have hit 102 homers this season in just 67 games — the quickest they’ve reached the century mark in franchise history.
Even though the team squandered a pair of scoring opportunities in the first two innings, they broke through in the third against Marco Estrada. Taylor Featherston started the rally with an opposite field homer to right, his first hit as a Ray.
Then with one out, Dickerson and Evan Longoria went back-to-back with opposite field base hits, bringing Logan Morrison to the plate. Morrison finally came through with a runner in scoring position, crushing a mammoth 443 foot homer to centerfield for a 4–0 lead.
Tampa Bay continued the offensive attack in the fourth inning, consequently chasing Estrada after Mallex Smith and Dickerson hit back-to-back base hits.
Dominic Leone entered the game with runners on the corners, and promptly gave up a two-RBI double to Longoria on the first pitch of the at-bat. That completed the line on Estrada, who was charged with six runs on 12 hits over 3-1/3 innings. He now has given up seven homers and 16 runs to Tampa Bay this season (over 14-1/3 innings).
Tampa Bay tacked on a pair of runs in the seventh and eighth innings (respectively) on Colby Rasmus’ sacrifice-fly, scoring Longoria, and Dickerson’s solo moon-shot into the second deck against Aaron Loup.
Corey Dickerson records three singles and a solo home run in the 9th inning for a four-hit ballgame against the Blue Jays
Seven runs of support were more than enough for Faria, who became the third Ray to collect back-to-back wins in his first two big league starts. The right-hander didn’t allow a runner past second base over the first six frames, and scattered just four hits and a walk — which should have been a strikeout — while fanning eight over 6-1/3 innings.
FoxTrax had that pitch, and the one to the right of it, in the strike zone.
Faria was lifted with one out in the seventh after allowing a double to Russell Martin, and an RBI single to Ezequiel Carrera to make it a 7–1 contest.
All told, Faria was impressive again. His stuff,especially his changeup, was electric, and he fooled Toronto’s hitters left and right.
Moreover, he was poised and efficient, allowing just three hits on 70 pitches over five innings — calmly taking a shutout into the seventh against the power-laden Blue Jays.
Austin Pruitt got the final two outs of the seventh. Even though he loaded the bases in the eighth inning with two outs, Pruitt got Russell Martin to ground into an inning ending fielder’s choice. Pruitt came back out in the ninth and threw a 1–2–3 inning to complete the victory.
The New What Next
The Rays look to hit a new high-water mark on Wednesday, when they close out a two-game series against the Blue Jays. Jake Odorizzi (4-3, 3.59 ERA, 5.03 FIP) will get the start for the Rays, opposite of left-hander Francisco Liriano (3-2, 5.87 ERA, 4.91 FIP).
Odorizzi battled in the sixth inning of a win over against Chicago, giving up a three-run homer, but was sharp otherwise, striking out a season-high-tying eight. He’s also been sharp over his previous four starts, collecting 22 strikeouts and allowing just 10 earned runs on 24 hits. However, there is something to be wary of, Odorizzi has given up at least one home run in all but one start this season — April 15 vs. Boston, the game he left after just one inning of work.
Liriano struggled before going on the 10-day DL in May with left shoulder inflammation, and hasn’t pitched deeply into games since his return. The left-hander has gone five innings in each of his two starts since returning, but earned a win on June 2 with a two-run effort against the Yankees. He is 1-0 against Tampa Bay this season, yet with a 9.00 ERA over three starts (totaling 9 innings pitched). Key Matchups: Tim Beckham (1-4, 2 BB), Peter Bourjos (9-35, 3 2B, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Corey Dickerson (2-7, RBI, BB), Evan Longoria (9-25, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB), Daniel Robertson (2-4, HR, RBI, BB), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3, RBI, 6 BB), Jesus Sucre (1-2, RBI)
Bourjos LF
Dickerson DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza Jr. RF
Smith CF
Robertson SS
Norris C
Featherston 2B
Odorizzi RHP
Noteworthiness
— Wilson Ramos went 2-4 with a homer as the designated hitter for the Triple-A Durham Bulls last night. He is slated to catch tonight, while relievers Brad Boxberger and Diego Moreno are expected to pitch. Matt Duffy is continuing to workout in Florida, although he is expected to go back to see Dr. Bob Anderson, who did the September surgery on the left heel that remains problematic.
— 2017 MLB Draft update: The Rays selected eight players in the draft yesterday. Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) listed the bios of the eight players selected:
Third Round: Taylor Walls — SS — FSU — Walls may have gone higher, but after being named a first-team All American last year, Walls had a down season offensively this year by his standards (.276 8 HR 47 RBI with more walks than strikeouts and a .421 on-base percentage). That said, he did helped lead Florida State to the CWS. Walls was rated the number 85 prospect by MLB Pipeline, and number 165 by Baseball America. He also played for Team USA last summer. Walls is a switch hitter who MLB Pipeline says might profile best eventually as a super-utility type, but has a chance to succeed as an everyday player up the middle. That profile with his on-base skills will have teams that covet college performers interested.
Fourth Round: Drew Strotman — RHP — St Mary’s (CA) — Strotman was rated the number 165 prospect by Baseball America. As a junior this season, Strotman struck out 75 in 67 innings, going 6–1 with a 4.57 ERA. Strotman started and relieved, making seven starts and 11 relief appearances. The West Coast Conference All-Academic Honorable Mention honoree from a year ago was a starter and reliever throughout his career. Strotman is 6–3 175, which is a projectable frame for a pitcher who is still just 21. Reports through several outlets were that he was throwing up to 96 miles per hour late in the season.
Fifth Round: Josh Fleming — LHP — Webster U (Missouri)— Rated the 210th best prospect by Baseball America. He entered college at 5–8 140 pounds, and now is 6–2 195. Fleming was 8–1 this year at the Division 3 school and led the level in ERA at 0.68 with 115 strikeouts and just 12 walks. Overall he was 19–5 with a 1.92 ERA at Webster, and struck out 251, walking only 29. He topped out at 94 miles per hour this season.
Sixth Round: Zach Rutherford — SS — Old Dominion U — Rated the 101st best prospect by Baseball America, and number 113 by MLB Pipeline. Rutherford was a Cape Cod League All-Star and All-Star Game MVP last summer. He was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and was an all-conference first team member. MLB Pipeline projected that he could go as early as the third round. Rutherford still was the highest infielder taken out of ODU since 2000. He hit .332 with 2 HR and 56 RBI this season.
Seventh Round: Hunter Schryver — LHP — Villanova— Schryver was an anchor for the Villanova Wildcats rotation. Schryver is just the second pitcher in Villanova baseball history to have won the Philadelphia Big 5 Pitcher of the Year award in back-to-back seasons. The senior led the Wildcats staff in ERA this season at 2.44 across 12 starts while striking out 91. Schryver overall was 13–23 with a 3.57 ERA while striking out 249 in his college career. He showed steady improvement across all four years at Villanova, and is only the third pitcher in school history to become a two-time all Big East first-team selection.
Eighth Round: Riley O’Brien — RHP — Col of Idaho — O’Brien primarily served as a relief pitcher for the Coyotes. He served as the College of Idaho’s closer in his junior year and tied for the NAIA West lead in saves at four. He was moved into the starting rotation during the later half of the Coyotes’ season and ended up ranking third in NAIA West in strikeouts with 74 and fifth in ERA at 2.44. O’Brien earned All NAIA West honors this season. O’Brien went to Shorewood HS, the same school that produced Blake Snell, and spent the next two years at Everett CC.
Ninth Round: Andrew Gist — LHP — University of Georgia — was 6–6 with a 4.35 ERA over the last two seasons for the SEC team after playing the previous two years at Walters State in Tennessee. Gist struck out 116 batters in 122 innings at Georgia. This year he was the Friday night starter much of the time, and was 3–4 with a team-best 3.80 ERA in that role. Gist was 1–1 with a 3.46 ERA in his last four starts of the season coming against ranked teams Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi State and South Carolina.
Tenth Round: Phoenix Sanders — RHP — USF — The senior sign played his first two years at Daytona State College before joining the Bulls the past two years. Sanders was one of the better starters this year for an NCAA Tournament team, going 6–2 with a 2.78 ERA, striking out 109 in 97 innings. Sanders, a Gainesville native, has been a starter for all but one of his appearances with USF. He often was a Friday night starter in the American, and is from a family where his siblings also were named after cities (Dallas, Hudson and Brooklyn).
McKay is a unique player that can pitch, play the field at first base, and hit. Recently named Baseball America’s College Player of the Year, the 21 year-old slashed .343 BA/.464 OBP/.657 SLG/1.121 OPS this season with the Louisville Cardinals. He’s hit 17 homers and 13 doubles, driven in 56, and posted a favorable walk-to-strikeout ratio (1.25 BB/K).
As a hurler, he is 10-6 over 16 games (104 innings) as the Cardinals’ ace, and owns an impressive 2.34 ERA, with 140 strikeouts, and a 4.24 K/BB this season.
McKay expects to play first base and pitch in the Rays’ Minor League system, and the ball-club appears to be okay with that plan, as it has not committed the draft pick to one role, pitching or hitting.
Rasmussen threw the only perfect game in OSU history, a 103 pitch effort against Washington State during his freshman campaign. Prior to his freshman season, the right-hander was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 39th round of the 2014 MLB draft.
Rasmussen missed most of last season — and the first part of this season — while recovering from Tommy-John surgery. He otherwise has been a terror for opposing batters, posting a 3-0 record with a 0.83 ERA.
If he can stay healthy, the Rays may have found themselves a bargain, as many had projected him to be a first round lock before he was bitten by the injury bug. The 6’1″ Rasmussen is a power pitcher with great control, that can hit upwards of 97 mph on the radar gun. His ever improving off-speed stuff (a slider and changeup) keeps hitters guessing.
