Tim Beckham celebrates after hitting a home run off Oakland Athletics’ Sonny Gray in the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 21, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ben Margot)
When you think about early September roster moves, adding more players to the active roster instantly comes to mind. The Tampa Bay Rays did the opposite, however, optioning INF Tim Beckham to Triple-A Durham after he made a costly base running blunder in the fourth inning on Wednesday.
The Rays will announce a corresponding move prior to the upcoming series with Toronto.
Tim Beckham casually strolls toward home plate, failing to cross before Kevin Kiermaier gets thrown out at second trying to stretch a single for the third out of the fourth inning. (Photo and Caption Credit: Marc Topkin and MLB.com)
On the play that cost Tim his job, Kevin Kiermaier laced a ball into right-center with Beckham on second base. Kiermaier, who later admitted to making a “really dumb, dumb play,” tried to stretch the two-out single to a double, yet was thrown out by Mookie Betts — an error that came at a rather inopportune time with Evan Longoria, the Rays top hitter, coming up next.
Beckham meanwhile, had not yet crossed home, and the Red Sox were already exiting the field by the time he did.
Following the ballgame, Kevin Cash said both Beckham and Kiermaier were to blame for the play, although Beckham’s gaffe was much more appalling.
Definitely the not hustling. That is required of us. And probably the easiest part to do in baseball.
It was a harsh, but necessary move that followed open criticism of players for making too many base running mistakes. Moreover, Beckham made the same type of blunder in the previous series against the Astros, which not hustling home when there was a potential third out being made on the bases was discussed.
Though Beckham had been in the midst of an extended hot streak since the All-Star Break — posting a 141 wRC+ and slashing .327 BA/.365 OBP/.520 SLG/.885 OPS over the second half of the season — this was a long overdue decision against a player whose countless mistakes proved costly to the team. Allowing him to continue making the same thoughtless errors would project the wrong message to the entire organization.
And while the decision didn’t come at a crucial point in the season, given the Rays sub .500 record, the point of move was valid and well worth it. If anything, Beckham has made a roster decision ahead of the 2017 season that much easier. That is, when it comes down to Beckham and Nick Franklin, the choice for bench depth next season is obvious. Besides, Franklin is a much more versatile player.
Jake Odorizzi posted another quality start on Tuesday; a three-run, six inning, seven strikeout affair. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
Luke Maile plated the game-tying run on a seventh inning homer, while Evan Longoria hit a go-ahead blast in the eighth, as the Tampa Bay Rays came from behind to beat Boston 4-3 at Fenway Park. Tampa Bay has now split the first two games of a three-game set.
It would be disingenuous to lie, I’ve been recording guitar tracks all night at the studio. Because of it I’m tired, and I have an insatiable craving for sleep. With that in mind, I’ll let the words of the incomparable Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) do the talking for this game recap.
The Rays started their game-tying rally when Tim Beckham began the seventh with a single to center off starter Drew Pomeranz. The lefty retired the next two batters and got ahead of Maile 1-2 before he homered to left on a hanging curveball. It was Maile’s second homer of the season.
After Matt Barnes got the final out in the seventh, Clay Buchholz, pitching for a second straight day, worked the eighth. With one out, Longoria blasted a homer to left on a 1-2 pitch as well, giving the Rays third baseman 31 homers this season.
That put Enny Romero on the right side of the ledger. Romero struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh, and remains unscored upon since he came off the DL. Erasmo Ramirez faced the top of the order in the eighth and had a perfect inning with a strikeout. Alex Colome entered for the ninth and gave up a one-out single to Hanley Ramirez, who then moved to second on a Maile passed ball with two out. Chris Young then walked, bringing up Sandy Leon as a pinch-hitter. Colome struck out Leon on three pitches to finish up save number 29 for the Rays righty. It was Colome’s first save chance since taking a loss in Houston on Friday.
The rally took Jake Odorizzi off the hook, although he pitched very well. Odorizzi allowed just one hit and worked to the minimum over the first four innings. In the fifth, Hanley Ramirez tucked a ball inside the Pesky pole for a solo homer to tie the game at one.
In the sixth, Dustin Pedroia walked with one out, and went to third on a Xander Bogaerts double off the Green Monster. David Ortiz followed with a line drive sac fly to right, making it 2-1 Boston. Mookie Betts was walked intentionally and Ramirez then hit a pop up to right. The ball fell between first baseman Brad Miller and right fielder Steven Souza Jr. for an RBI single to put the lead to 3-1.
Tampa Bay had jumped ahead in the first inning. Kevin Kiermaier doubled to left off the Monster, and Miller came up with an RBI single. Both Miller and Longoria now have 25 RBI in the month of August.
The New What Next
Drew Smyly (6-11, 4.80 ERA) will get the start in the series finale Wednesday afternoon, opposite of Steven Wright (13-6, 3.18 ERA).
Smyly gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks over six innings on Friday, notching eight strikeouts along the way. The southpaw continued his recent stretch of strong pitching, posting at least six innings for the seventh consecutive start while giving up two earned runs or fewer for the sixth time over that span. Smyly’s eight punch outs was also his second-highest total in that category since July 1.
Wright, the knuckleballer (not the comedian), was rusty in the first inning of his first start back from the DL on Friday, giving up a five-spot to Kansas City. He, however, wasn’t scored on over his final five innings. Wright relies primarily on his 74 mph knuckleball that flutters and floats unpredictably toward home, while also mixing in an 83 mph sinker with little arm side run. He also rarely throws an 86 mph four-seam fastball, a slow 69 mph 12-6 curveball, and a 76 mph changeup with a lot of backspin.
Forsythe 2B
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Miller DH
Franklin RF
Morrison 1B
Beckham SS
Dickerson LF
Wilson C
Smyly LHP
Noteworthiness
— A win Wednesday afternoon would give Tampa Bay its first winning (plus .500 month) of the season.
— Prior to Tuesday’s ballgame, Kevin Cash said the Rays would likely add 1-2 pitchers on September 2 (off-day 9/1), then several others players after the Durham Bulls season ends.
— Though the Rays technically optioned RHP Steve Geltz to Triple-A Durham on Sunday, he actually was designated for assignment and passed through optional waivers, allowing him to remain on the 40-man roster. The team made a similar move earlier this season with RHP Danny Farquhar, which is required for certain players at certain times of the season based on when they were first called up, noted Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times). There is an unofficial agreement among teams to not claim them.
— After starting games at 1B, 2B, LF, RF and DH, UTL Nick Franklin is expected to get a couple of starts at shortstop in September and may spend some time in CF.
— RHP Alex Cobb reportedlyfelt good after throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday, ahead of his season debut Friday night.
Jake Odorizzi is tied with Cole Hamels for the AL lead in ERA (1.59) since the All-Star Break, while his 6-0 record is Major League Baseball’s best. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
After an ugly 9-4 loss to the Red Sox Monday night, the Tampa Bay Rays look to even the series tonight at Fenway Park.
While Tampa Bay has received good pitching since the All-Star Break, Rays starters have posted five innings or fewer in four of the last eight games, including last night. Matt Andriese, the Rays best starter early on, has been the most inconsistent the second time in the rotation.
The New What Next
Jake Odorizzi (9-5, 3.53 ERA) starts for Tampa Bay, opposite of Drew Pomeranz (10-10, 2.95 ERA).
Odorizzi hurled seven innings of one run ball on Thursday, scattering five hits and three walks while striking out four Red Sox. Jake got the better end of a pitcher’s duel with Drew Pomeranz, allowing him to snare his sixth straight win. The right-hander also collected his seventh quality start in his last eight outings, a stretch in which he’s put up a 1.40 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 45 innings. Odorizzi now has a 1.59 ERA since the All-Star Break, lowest in the American League, and second in the majors.
Pomeranz allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk over six innings against Tampa Bay on Thursday, striking out a career-high 11 in the 2-1 loss. The lefty was out dueled by Jake Odorizzi and pegged with his first loss in five starts. Pomeranz induced 23 swinging strikes and lowered his Boston ERA to 4.06 — its best mark since being acquired from the Padres.
Forsythe 2B
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Miller 1B
Duffy DH
Beckham SS
Souza Jr RF
Dickerson LF
Maile C
Odorizzi RHP
Noteworthiness
— “Evan Longoria drove in two runs yesterday, giving him 24 in the month of August, and 82 for the season,” writes Neil Solondz (Rays Radio). Longoria, who has 30 homers, is three shy of tying his career high.
— After being released on Saturday, former OF Desmond Jennings has cleared waivers and now is a free agent. Per Mike Fiore of the the Boras Corp. (who has been in correspondence with Marc Topkin), which represents Jennings, he is “unable to play due to his knee injury.” Fiore added, “So we shall see what the future holds.”
The Tampa Bay Rays salvaged the series finale against the Houston Astros on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
The Tampa Bay Rays make a quick jaunt into Boston on Monday, where they’ll take on the Red Sox for the second time in a week.
Tampa Bay is coming off a 10-4 win against the Astros, on Sunday, after dropping the first two games of the set, while Boston went 1-2 in a weekend series against the reigning World Series champions. Too, the Rays won the final two games of a four-game series against the Red Sox last week, although Boston leads the season series with Tampa Bay 7-6, having gone 4-2 at Fenway Park.
The good guys enter the series with a 66-63 BaseRuns record, and a 63-66 Pythagorean Expectation — both of which are vastly better than their 55-74 regular season record.
Kevin Cash will call upon the services of Matt Andriese (6-5, 3.71 ERA), Jake Odorizzi (9-5, 3.53), and Drew Smyly (6-11, 4.80 ERA) over the next three days. John Farrell will counter with Rick Porcello (17-3, 3.23 ERA), Drew Pomeranz (10-10, 2.95 ERA), and Steven Wright (13-6, 3.18 ERA).
Rays Series Starters
Andriese allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk, while fanning eight over six innings on Wednesday against the Red Sox. The righty had failed to make it through the sixth inning in his previous four starts, posting a 6.84 ERA/6.02 FIP over that span. However, Andriese appears to have reverted back into the pitcher he was in May and early June, when he started the season 6-0.
Odorizzi hurled seven innings of one run ball on Thursday, scattering five hits and three walks while striking out four Red Sox. Jake got the better end of a pitcher’s duel with Drew Pomeranz, allowing him to snare his sixth straight win. The right-hander also collected his seventh quality start in his last eight outings, a stretch in which he’s put up a 1.40 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 45 innings.
Smyly gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks over six innings on Friday, notching eight strikeouts along the way. The southpaw continued his recent stretch of strong pitching, posting at least six innings for the seventh consecutive start while giving up two earned runs or fewer for the sixth time over that span. Smyly’s eight punch outs was also his second-highest total in that category since July 1.
Red Sox Series Starters
Porcello allowed three runs on nine hits over 7-2/3 innings on Wednesday in an extra-inning loss against Tampa Bay. He struck out eight. The righty was efficient — he didn’t walk a batter and collected a pair of consecutive 1-2-3 innings — although Porcello’s shot at grabbing his 18th win was derailed by Evan Longoria, who hit a solo home run to tie the game in the eighth inning. Key matchups: Matt Duffy (3-7), Logan Forsythe (6-24, 3B, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (6-24, 2B, RBI, BB), Evan Longoria (10-40, 3 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB), Luke Maile (1-1, 2B, RBI), Brad Miller (4-15, 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, BB), Logan Morrison (8-19, 2 2B, RBI), Steven Souza Jr. (6-21), Bobby Wilson (3-9, 2B)
Pomeranz allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk over six innings against Tampa Bay on Thursday, striking out a career-high 11 in the 2-1 loss. The lefty was out dueled by Jake Odorizzi and pegged with his first loss in five starts. Pomeranz induced 23 swinging strikes and lowered his Boston ERA to 4.06 — its best mark since being acquired from the Padres. Key matchups: Matt Duffy (4-12, 2B, BB), Evan Longoria (1-4, 2B, BB), Luke Maile (1-2), Brad Miller (3-8, HR, 2 RBI), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3)
Wright, the knuckleballer (not the comedian), was rusty in the first inning of his first start back from the DL on Friday, giving up a five-spot to Kansas City. He, however, wasn’t scored on over his final five innings. Wright relies primarily on his 74 mph knuckleball that flutters and floats unpredictably toward home, while also mixing in an 83 mph sinker with little arm side run. He also rarely throws an 86 mph four-seam fastball, a slow 69 mph 12-6 curveball, and a 76 mph changeup with a lot of backspin. Key matchups: Brad Miller (1-4, HR, RBI, BB), Logan Morrison (1-2), Bobby Wilson (1-3)
Noteworthiness
— Evan Longoria has 15 homers in 72 games at Fenway Park.
— Tampa Bay optioned RHP Steve Geltz back to Triple-A Durham after he allowed one run and three hits in one inning against Houston on Sunday.
— The Rays are expected to activate RHP Alex Cobb, who has not pitched in the majors since 2014 due to Tommy John surgery. He likely will start against the Blue Jays at home next weekend.
