LBWMF: Tampa Bay Rays rally from behind to beat Rangers, 10-8

So what if they played 15 innings the previous day, the entire gang was on hand for the series opener against Texas on Monday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

A day after they won a satisfying 15 inning contest in Minnesota, the Tampa Bay Rays rallied multiple times on Monday, scoring five two-out runs in the seventh to beat the Rangers 10–8. The Rays are now 3–1 on their current road trip, and two games over .500 for the first time since they were 5–3 at the start of the season.


Source: FanGraphs

Tampa Bay scored first, their American League leading 43rd first inning run, to take a one-run lead against Martin Perez. Steven Souza Jr. singled to center, Corey Dickerson doubled to left-center, and Evan Longoria plated the run on a fielder’s choice to short. Eager to snap a run or poor play, the Rangers struck just as quickly in the bottom of the frame.

Giving the ball to Erasmo Ramirez a day after he notched a save might not have been the best idea. Staked with a one-run lead, Ramirez walked Shin-Soo Choo before Elvis Andrus singled to right-center, putting runners at the corners. Nomar Mazara came up big for his squad when he lined a double into the right-field corner, scoring both runners and putting Texas up by one. Fresh off the DL, Adrian Beltre singled to right — his 2943rd career hit — before Rougned Odor hit a sacrifice fly to deep right-center, scoring Mazara to make it 3–1.

Ramirez couldn’t shut down the Rangers in the second, serving up a no doubter to Joey Gallo and giving Texas a commanding 4-1 advantage. Much to their chagrin though, the Rays also wouldn’t go away quietly.

Tampa Bay answered in the third after Daniel Robertson singled to center, then went to third on a Souza double to left. Dickerson drove home Robertson on an opposite field single, before Souza came home on Longoria’s second RBI groundout of the night, bringing the Rays within one.

Yet it appeared the baseball gods didn’t want the Rays to win their second game in a row as the Rangers stretched their lead in the fourth against reliever Jose Alvarado. It was clear from the start that Alavardo’s command was spotty at best and/or missing completely. And when he was able to find the zone, he got hit. Alvarado allowed a double to right to Gallo before scoring on a single to center of the bat of former Ray Robinson Chirinos. Tim Beckham was able to help the cause when he made an outstanding play for the second out of the inning, cutting down Chirinos at the plate and limiting the damage. That made up for his botched double play earlier in the game.

Cash pulled Alvarado in favor of Ryne Stanek, who notched a strikeout to end the fourth. Stanek also worked a scoreless fifth, giving to keep Tampa Bay in the ball game.

The Rays tied it up in the fifth against Perez. Souza hit a one out single (his third hit of the night) then, two batters later, Longoria crushed a two-run homer to center field, making it a 5–5 game.

As fate would have it though, Texas moved in front 7–5 in the sixth with Jose De Leon on the mound. A common thread for the Rays hurlers in the contest, De Leon also had a hard time commanding and locating his pitches. There were times when he looked absolutely dominant, then others where he seemed to be pitching around the zone, not attacking it. Because of it, they found themselves down by a pair.

Despite the wishes of the baseball gods, Tampa Bay took the lead for good against the Rangers’ bullpen. Souza sparked the rally with a double to left off Jeremy Jeffress — his fourth hit of the night. Southpaw reliever Alex Claudio took the mound in relief and promptly hit Corey Dickerson in the elbow with his first pitch. Longoria hit a chopper off the plate, putting runners into scoring position before LoMo struck out. But this is where things got interesting.

For some reason, Jeff Bannister thought a wise decision to bring right-hander Tony Barnette into the game. Rays skipper Kevin Cash countered the move by pinch hitting Colby Rasmus for Rickie Weeks Jr. The decision immediately paid dividends, as Rasmus doubled to right-center on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring two and tying the game at seven. Then after Kiermaier was intentionally walked — another inexplicable decision by Bannister — Tim Beckham drilled a three-run homer to left-center, putting the Rays up 10-7.

Texas made one last gasp in the eighth when Choo drilled a one-out solo homer to right, making it a two-run affair, yet Chase Whitley and Alex Colome, who threw 35 pitches on Sunday, paired up the get the final four outs of the ball-game. Rays win, 10-8

The New What Next

Game two of the three-game series takes place Tuesday with Matt Andriese (5-1, 3.24 ERA, 4.48 FIP) taking the mound opposite Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.69 ERA, 5.20 FIP).

Andriese looks to notch his fifth win in May after he held the Angels to six hits over eight shutout innings in his last start — inarguably his best start of the season. He’ll be making his fourth road start of the season, where he holds a 1-1 record and a 3.00 ERA.

Martinez allowed four runs over five innings against Boston on Thursday. The right-hander will make his fourth start at home, where he has a 3.32 ERA. Martinez has relied primarily on his 93 mph four-seam fastball with average velocity, while also mixing in a 93 mph sinker with little sinking action, an 89 mph worm killer cutter, an 80 mph 12-6 curveball, and a firm 86 mph changeup with slight armside fade. He has no record and a 5.25 ERA in three career outings against the Rays. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-3, 3B, RBI), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3, 2B, RBI, BB), Jesus Sucre (1-3, RBI)

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 5/30/17 Starting Lineup

Dickerson DH
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Rasmus LF
Beckham SS
Sucre C
Robertson 2B
Andriese RHP

Noteworthiness

— Following the ball game, the optioned RHP José De León back to Triple-A Durham. A corresponding move will be announced later today, with either Austin Pruitt or Chih-Wei Hu being the most likely options since they can provide length.

— DL Update… In an on-air interview with 620 WDAE this afternoon, Kevin Cash updated the DL status of Brad Miller, Matt Duffy, and Wilson Ramos. Miller has been cleared to start his rehab stint with the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs, and is slated to play in a game Wednesday. After being cleared to resume baseball activities, Duffy will take a couple of days off, then is expected to resume playing in games with the Stone Crabs later in the week. Ramos was scheduled to catch Brad Boxberger on Monday, and should get at-bats in an extended Spring Training games this week.

Rays promote Jose De Leon, 5/29/17 starting lineup and pregame notes

Jose De Leon has been promoted from Triple-A Durham, and will offer the Rays bullpen some depth following Sunday’s marathon ball game. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

The Tampa Bay Rays decided that they could use some depth and length in their bullpen, after playing in a 15 inning marathon on Sunday, and are calling up highly touted prospect RHP Jose De Leon from Triple-A Durham.

In spite of the move, RHP Erasmo Ramirez is still slated to start Monday night’s contest as previously scheduled.

De Leon won’t be placed into the rotation, rather he will lend a hand in the bullpen that has been stretched following the 6-1/2 long series finale on Sunday — the Rays had three relievers throw more than 30 pitches yesterday (Tommy Hunter, Danny Farquhar and closer Alex Colome) and they opted to add De Leon, who was scheduled to start today for the Bulls at Pawtucket.

De Leon, who has frequented top prospect rankings over the last three years, was acquired from the Dodgers this past winter in a trade for Logan Forsythe. He was placed on the disabled list at the end of Spring Training after incurring a flexor injury following a stint with Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

He was activated from the DL toward the beginning of May and has made three starts; two for the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs, and one for the Triple-A Durham Bulls in which he allowed four runs on eight hits over four innings. De Leon turned in a brilliant Triple-A campaign last season, posting a 2.61 ERA with an 11.6 K/9 and a 2.1 BB/9 over 86 Triple-A innings.

The Rays will have to make room on the 25-man roster for De Leon; barring any injuries, they likely will demote RHP Ryan Garton, who did not fare well in his first outing since being recalled on Sunday.

Rays 5/29/17 Starting Lineup

Souza RF
Dickerson LF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Weeks DH
Kiermaier CF
Beckham SS
Norris C
Robertson 2B
Ramirez RHP

Noteworthiness

— You can read about tonight’s pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview.

— Tonight’s starter Erasmo Ramirez joins just four other pitchers to have save and start the next game:

A. Messersmith 1975-05-30
D. Drago 1979-08-04
A. McGaffigan 1983-07-24
S. Farr 1984-06-09

— The Rays have now won the longest 15-inninng game (6:26, yesterday) and 14-inning games (5:49, 5/2/14 at NYY) in MLB history.

— Yesterday’s game featured 553 pitches. The 289 pitches thrown by the Rays were their second most ever (292 on 9/20/13 vs. BAL, 18 inn).

The New What Next: Rays vs Rangers — a series preview

Erasmo Ramirez: the closer in the series finale against the Twins, and starter in the opening game against the Rangers. Go figure. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

After a frustrating, thrilling, and exciting 15-inning victory in the series finale with the AL Central leading Twins, the Tampa Bay Rays continue their road-trip in Arlington, where they will face the Texas Rangers.

(Stats: ESPN)

The Rays continue to hold their own in the AL East and head into Arlington one game over .500. They have won nine of their last 15 games following the marathon victory on Sunday. It was, as Joe Maddon once called it, a moment of growth for the Rays. Tampa Bay has an opportunity to add to its +.500 record against a scuffling Texas team that his lost five of its last six.

The Rangers salvaged a win in the series finale against Toronto Sunday afternoon; one of the few bright spots on an otherwise awful road trip. With just a 3-6 record on the trip, the Rangers head back to Arlington a game below .500 and 10 games back of Houston in the AL West.

While the Rays lead the majors with 555 strikeouts, including 17 on Sunday — putting them on pace to eclipse the Astros’ major league record of 1,535 set in 2013 — they have been able to reduce their strikeout rate by two percentage points over the last 14 days. Besides, it would be erroneous to confuse the strikeouts with a bad offensive team. Tampa Bay is second in Major League Baseball with 74 homers, and are hitting around league average with a .247 overall team batting average — six points better than the Rangers. They also lead the majors with 209 walks.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will call upon Erasmo Ramirez (2-0, 2.76 ERA, 3.51 FIP), Matt Andriese (5-1, 3.24 ERA, 4.48 FIP), and Chris Archer (4-3, 3.61 ERA, 2.78 FIP). Jeff Banister will counter with Martin Perez (2-5, 3.77 ERA, 3.73 FIP), Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.69 ERA, 5.20 FIP), and a pitcher to be determined prior to Thursday’s ball game.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Ramirez pitched a perfect 15th inning on Sunday, collecting two strikeouts and recording the save on 12 pitches in the Rays’ win over the Twins.

There is some concern with Ramirez slated to throw on back-to-back days. Cash, however, doesn’t seem as concerned as the Rays’ Twitter-sphere.

He should be fine, Cash said on Sunday. Erasmo, we always talk about how resilient he is.

For his part, Erasmo said he pushed Cash to allow him to make the start.

My arm feels good, Ramirez said. I’m glad the inning was quick. I executed every pitch, and that gave me the chance to not just feel it that much. I told Cash my arm feels good just in case you want to continue with the plans. I want to start for sure.

Perez is 1-0 with a 3.20 ERA over his past three starts, and 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in six home starts this season. He, however, is 0-2 with a 5.33 ERA in four career starts (and one relief appearance) against Tampa Bay. This season Perez has relied on a kitchen sink repertoire of pitches: a worm burner 94 mph sinker with good arm side run, and a 94 mph four-seam fastball. He’s also mixed in an 85 mph circle changeup that generates a fair number of grounders, an 80 mph curveball, and an 86 mph slider. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (2-4, 2B), Kevin Kiermaier (1-3), Evan Longoria (6-12, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI), Derek Norris (5-11, 3 2B, HR, 4 RBI, BB), Colby Rasmus (2-8), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3), Jesus Sucre (1-2)

Andriese looks to notch his fifth win in May after he held the Angels to six hits over eight shutout innings in his last start — inarguably his best start of the season. He’ll be making his fourth road start of the season, where he holds a 1-1 record and a 3.00 ERA.

Martinez allowed four runs over five innings against Boston on Thursday. The right-hander will make his fourth start at home, where he has a 3.32 ERA. Martinez has relied primarily on his 93 mph four-seam fastball with average velocity, while also mixing in a 93 mph sinker with little sinking action, an 89 mph worm killer cutter, an 80 mph 12-6 curveball, and a firm 86 mph changeup with slight armside fade. He has no record and a 5.25 ERA in three career outings against the Rays. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-3, 3B, RBI), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3, 2B, RBI, BB), Jesus Sucre (1-3, RBI)

Archer allowed two runs on five hits and a walk over 7-2/3 innings on Friday. He struck out 11. The right-hander, who is poised to break the club record for strikeouts in a month, has now recorded double-digit strikeouts in four of his last five starts. His 51 strikeouts in May leave him three behind David Price’s mark, set in June 2014. He has slashed 3.82 ERA/1.06 WHIP/51:10 K:BB in 33 innings over that stretch.

TBA

Noteworthiness

— Evan Longoria’s 15th-inning home run was his first extra-inning homer since Game 162 in 2011 (when he hit an extra inning walk-off home run to put the Rays in the playoffs).

— The six hour and 26 minute contest marked the longest game ever at Target Field.

— Nap time with Logan Morrison:

— DL notes: Brad Boxberger (flexor) will throw live batting to 2B Brad Miller (abdominal strain) and SS Matt Duffy (left heel) with Wilson Ramos (right knee surgery) catching on Monday. Ramos, Miller and Duffy could get at-bats in an extended Spring Training game on Tuesday.

LBWMF: Odorizzi gives up a pair of leads en route to Rays 5-3 loss

(Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Jake Odorizzi squandered a pair of one-run leads on Saturday, as the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Minnesota Twins, 5–3. The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Rays, who fell back to .500 at 26-26 on the season.

The Rays took the first lead of the game in the second inning against Twins starter Adalberto Mejia. Logan Morrison doubled to centerfield, then moved up to third on a passed ball. Morrison eventually scored on Derek Norris’ single to left with the bases loaded. Yet they couldn’t collect more than a one-run lead even though the golden opportunity to do so presented itself.

Steven Souza Jr. was thrown out at the plate on a close play when he tried to score from third on a ball in the dirt that bounded away from former Ray Chris Gimenez. Souza’s hesitation before breaking from third had a lot to do with his inability to slide in safely.

Following the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash said that it was probably better for Souza to stay at third after his moment of hesitation.

Once you hesitate it’s best to lay up there and see if we can piece something together at the plate.

A few pitches later, Peter Bourjos grounded out to shortstop to end the inning with just one run on the board. Let it sink in, the Rays scored just one run on a double, single, two walks, a passed ball, and another errant pitch.

The inability to plate more than one run proved costly, as Minnesota answered in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases against Odorizzi on two singles and a walk. To his credit, Jake was able to limit the damage to a run on a sacrifice-fly to center by Ehire Adrianza.

Tampa Bay took its second (and final lead) of the contest in the top of the fourth, when Kevin Kiermaier and Rickie Weeks Jr. went back-to-back with a pair of base hits — putting runners at first and third with one out. Norris, who drove in Tampa Bay’s first run, came up big when he hit a sacrifice-fly to center field. Yet Bourjos again put the kibosh on the rally when he went down swinging in a nine pitch at-bat.

Up by one, Odorizzi gave up the lead on Eddie Rosario’s solo-shot to right in the bottom of the frame, tying the game at two. It was the ninth homer that Odorizzi has allowed this year.

Odorizzi battled through lapses of fastball command, leaving the game in the sixth inning with the score tied at two. The right-hander ran his pitch count up to 118 (74 strikes) over 5-2/3 innings, forcing the ‘pen into extended action, which eventually bit the Rays in the backside.

He (Odorizzi) showed some glimpses with the good fastball, but it was a battle for him, Cash said in his post game presser.

Jose Alvarado entered the game two outs into the sixth, and coaxed an inning ending fly-ball out to left from Joe Mauer. Yet Alvarado pitched himself into trouble in the seventh inning when he started the frame by walking Robbie Grossman. The southpaw was able to pop-up Max Kepler for the first out before Cash called upon Danny Farquhar.

Farquhar quickly allowed Grossman advance to third on an error, but got out of the frame unscathed. The Rays wouldn’t be so lucky in the bottom of the eighth.

Farquhar walked the .184 hitting Gimenez on four pitches to start the the frame. After Rosario sacrificed Gimenez to second, Adrianza grounded to first allowing Gimenez to move to third. Farq’s day was done. Tommy Hunter replaced the right-handed LOOGY.

Making his second appearance since returning from the DL, Hunter promptly gave up an opposite-field homer to Brian Dozier after falling behind 2-1 in the count.

Though the pitch wasn’t bad, the real mistake was falling behind in the count.

You’ve got to get strike one in that situation, Hunter said. I fell behind, he put the barrel on the ball. That’s what happens with guys like him.

Yet the Twins weren’t done. Mauer doubled to left, and Byron Buxton hit a seeing-eye single to center, scoring Mauer for a three-run lead.

For his part, Farquhar did accept responsibility for the leadoff walk, although culpability only goes so far.

Absolutely not, especially to a bottom-of-the-order guy, Farquhar said. And four pitches. It wasn’t even a competitive at-bat. … After the first ball, I was trying to throw it right down the middle and couldn’t do it.

And while Colby Rasmus hit a two-out solo homer in the ninth, Brandon Kintzler struck out Tim Beckham to end the game and earn the save.

The New What Next

After the loss, the Rays are looking to bounce back today and win a series against the Twins. Alex Cobb (4-4, 3.82 ERA, 4.26 FIP) will get the ball for Tampa Bay, and will pitch opposite of right-hander Kyle Gibson (7-2, 1.80 ERA, 4.10 FIP).

Cobb has made consecutive starts of at least seven innings, totaling four such outings this season. He, however, has allowed four runs or more in eight of his 15 post Tommy John surgery starts, compared to 20 of 81 prior to going under the knife. He allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks across 7-1/3 innings in Tuesday’s loss to the Angels. He struck out five.

Gibson allowed six runs on seven hits through five innings against the Orioles in his first outing since being recalled from Triple-A. Five of those runs came in the second inning alone. So far this season he is 1-4 with an 8.62 ERA over seven starts, with just 21 strikeouts. He is also 1-4 with a 7.82 ERA in five starts against Tampa Bay. Gibson has relied on a 92 mph ground ball inducing sinker (that he throws with a two-seam fastball grip), and a fly ball heavy 92 mph four-seam fastball this season. He has also mixed in a ground ball coaxing 84 mph slider and 83 mph changeup, and a whiffy 79 mph curveball. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-1, BB), Peter Bourjos (2-5, 2B), Kevin Kiermaier (3-5, 2B, BB), Evan Longoria (4-13, 2B, 4 RBI, BB), Colby Rasmus (2-6), Steven Souza Jr. (1-2)

You can read about the series in our preview.

Rays 5/28/17 Starting Lineup

Dickerson DH
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Rasmus LF
Beckham SS
Martinez 2B
Sucre C
Cobb RHP

LBWMF: Rays extend win streak to three with 5-2 win over the Twins

Daniel Robertson (photographed) made another defensive gem in last night’s game. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Logan Morrison, Kevin Kiermaier and Steven Souza Jr. led the offensive charge Friday night, while Chris Archer dominated Minnesota over six of his 7-2/3 innings of work, helping the Tampa Bay Rays win against the Twins, 5–2.

As they havedone all season, the Rays took an early lead in a fourth inning rally that started with Corey Dickerson’s leadoff single to center against starter Hector Santiago. Logan Morrison, two batters later, lined a two-run bullet to right field for a two-run advantage.

Morrison now leads the team with 34 RBI, and has homered in his last four games at Target Field.

Unwilling to just sit on the two-run lead, Tampa Bay widened the gap in the sixth inning. Two batters after Morrison worked a one-out walk, chasing Santiago, Kevin Kiermaier lined a two-run homer to right off reliever Ryan Pressly, extending the lead to four runs.

Minnesota, however, made a valiant effort to get on the board in the seventh against Archer, whose fastball command began to lapse. Joe Mauer singled hard to center to lead off the frame, although the Rays’ ace was able to bounce back and strikeout Miguel Sano. Archer uncorked a pair of of wild pitches, allowing Mauer to move second and third, before Max Kepler popped out to short for the second out of the frame. But just one out away from getting out of the jam unscathed, Kennys Vargas singled to shallow right-center for an RBI hit to bring the Twins within three.

The ball landed about 23 feet away from, and out of the reach of, a diving Souza.

Yet Souza had the final laugh in the top of the eighth when answered by lifting a bomb into the second deck of the left-field stands off Matt Belisle.

Archer — who struck out the side in the first, and only allowed an infield hit over the first six innings — was unable to get out of the bottom of the eighth. Call it the curse of the third and fourth times through the order.

Eddie Rosario doubled to left to start the inning. He struck out the next two batters before Brian Dozier singled through the shift to left-center, scoring Rosario to again bring the Twins within three. Cash pulled Archer after he walked Mauer.

That’s not to take anything from Archer, who otherwise was superb. The right-hander struck out 11 over 7-2/3 innings and allowed just a walk and five hits. It was his fourth double-digit strikeout game in his last five starts (his 22nd overall).

Archer credited the work of Derek Norris behind the plate:

First and foremost, Norris called a great game back there, Archer said. We talked about doing specific things prior to the game and it worked out really well. We played some great defense. Overall it was just a great day for the team.

When all was said and done, Archer’s slider was dynamic — coaxing whiff after whiff from the Twins’ batters.

His slider is his most devastating pitch in terms of swings and misses that you’ll see, Molitor said prior to the game. He can make it disappear both down and in to lefties and away from righties, and he’s not afraid to throw it behind in the count. He’s one of those guys it’s going to be tough to have a good at-bat against him every time.

Alex Colome entered in relief and got Sano to strikeout on four pitches to end the eighth. Colome later worked the ninth and earned his 13th save by working around one-out double.

The New What Next

The Rays look to tie their season high in wins on Saturday with ake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.14 ERA, 4.50 FIP) on the mound. He’ll start opposite of left-hander Adalberto Mejia (1–1, 4.96 ERA, 6.63 FIP).

Odorizzi collected his fourth quality start of the season Monday when he held the Angels to two runs over six innings of a no-decision. In two career starts at Target Field, Odorizzi is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA. This season, Mejia has relied primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball and a rather par for the course 84 mph slider. He’s also mixed in a 93 mph contact inducing sinker and an 85 mph changeup.

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 5/27/17 Starting Lineup

Beckham SS
Robertson 2B
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Kiermaier CF
Weeks DH
Norris C
Bourjos LF
Odorizzi RHP